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Product Type: |
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) |
Using Service (US): |
Air Force (Predator/Reaper) |
Program Status: |
In Production |
Prime Contractor: |
General Atomics Aeronautical Systems |
The MQ-1B Predator, MQ-1C Gray Eagle, and MQ-9 Reaper aka Predator B are Unmanned Aerial Vehicles/Systems (UAV/UAS)
manufactured by General Atomics-Aeronautical Systems (GA-ASI).
The aircraft can be transported onboard a Lockheed Martin
C-130 Hercules
or larger military transport aircraft. In the following, we will also list the differences between the Predator and Reaper.
The MQ-1B Predator is used for close-air-support, air interdiction, and intelligence, surveillance
and reconnaissance (ISR) missions and is powered by a single Rotax 914F four cylinder aviation fuel piston engine engine with 115 hp.
It provides armed reconnaissance, airborne surveillance and target acquisition
for the U.S. Air Force. The Predator has a wingspan of 55 feet, is 27 feet long, 6.9 feet high
and carries a payload of up to 450 pounds and has a maximum speed of 135 mph (217 km/h).
The MQ-1B Predator is equipped with the Raytheon
AN/AAS-52 Multi-spectral Targeting System (MTS-A), which includes Electro-optical/Infrared (EO/IR) video cameras and laser designators.
The MQ-1B carries up to two AGM-114 Hellfire missiles.
In March 2011, the USAF received the last of a total of 268 Predators and focus has now shifted to sustainment.
In August 2011, the Predator reached the one million flight hour mark.
As of September 2013, there were 156 MQ-1Bs in the USAF inventory vs. 165 one year before.
The MQ-1C Gray Eagle is powered by a single Thielert 2.0L heavy-fuel piston engine with 165 hp
and provides an unmanned long-endurance and persistent ISR and tactical strike capability.
The MQ-1C performs the following missions: Reconnaissance, Surveillance, Target Acquisition (RSTA), command and control,
communications relay, signals intelligence (SIGINT), battle damage assessment, and manned-unmanned teaming capability.
The Gray Eagle has a wingspan of 56 feet, is 28 feet long, and carries a payload
of up to 1,075 pounds. The Gray Eagle is equipped with the Raytheon
AN/AAS-53 Common Sensor Payload (CSP), which includes Electro-Optical/Infrared (EO/IR) video cameras and laser designators.
The MQ-1C also features a Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR), communications relay,
and carries up to four AGM-114 Hellfire
missiles.
The MQ–9 Reaper is powered by a Honeywell TPE331-10GD turboprop engine with 900 shp.
The Reaper is a multi-mission ISR and strike UAV/UAS and is significantly larger than the Predator and Gray Eagle.
Also, it features a more powerful engine and carries a much greater payload.
The MQ-9 has a wingspan of 66 feet, is 36 feet long, 12.5 feet high, and carries a payload of up to 3,850 pounds
and flies at speeds of up to 276 mph (444 km/h).
The aircraft is equipped with the Raytheon
AN/DAS-1 Multi-spectral Targeting System (MTS-B), which has a suite of visual sensors for targeting.
The MTS-B integrates an infrared sensor, a color/monochrome daylight TV camera, an image-intensified TV camera,
a laser designator, and a laser illuminator. Also, the Reaper features the Lynx multi-mode radar (from General Atomics),
a multi-mode maritime surveillance radar, a SIGINT/Electronic Support Measures (ESM) system, and a communications relay.
The MQ-9 carries up to four AGM-114 Hellfire
missiles and can also carry Paveway II Laser-Guided Bombs and Joint Direct Attack Munitions (JDAM).
For more information about the types of ordnance carried by the MQ-9, please see Armament/Weapons section below.
The Air Force plans to purchase a total of 343 MQ-9 production aircraft, the last of which will be procured in FY 2019.
By March 2014, the Air Force had contracted for a total of 231 MQ-9 Reapers.
As of March 2014, GA-ASI has delivered 163 aircraft, 143 of which are operationally active.
As of September 2013, there were 104 MQ-9s in the USAF inventory (same as one year before).
On February 20, 2015, the Reaper reached the one million flight hour mark having flown 78,606 sorties since its maiden flight on February 2, 2001.
The main difference between the MQ-1 Predator and MQ-9 Reaper is the size, mission, payload, speed and range
(see specs at the end of this page). The Reaper is mainly used as an attack UAV (hunter killer) and thus carries significantly more ordnance
(see armament info below). The Predator's primary role is ISR.
The MQ-1 Predator can be equipped with two AGM-114 Hellfire missiles, while the MQ-1C Gray Eagle carries twice that amount. The MQ-9 Reaper carries a broader range of ordnance and can be equipped with up to 4 Hellfire missiles + two GBU-12 Paveway II Laser-Guided Bombs or two 500-pound GBU-38 Joint Direct Attack Munitions (JDAM). On the Reaper, Hellfire missiles are carried on stations 2 and 6 (middle wing stations). Stations 3 and 5 can only carry bombs, while stations 2 and 6 can carry either bombs or the M299P launcher with missiles.
The MQ-1B Predator is no longer being purchased by the Air Force. The unit cost of the Army's MQ-1C Gray Eagle is $4.98 million in FY 2015, while the MQ-9 Reaper costs $13.77 million. These prices are for air vehicles only and does not include the cost of ground stations and other associated equipment. For the cost of these items, please refer to the PDF Budget Downloads below.
The total procurement cost of the MQ-1C program is $3.10 billion (official DoD estimate) + $0.94 billion in research and development (RDT&E) funds, which means the total estimated program cost is $4.04 billion (numbers are aggregated annual funds spent over the life of the program and no price/inflation adjustment was made). This figure excludes military construction (MILCON) costs in support of the program in the amount of $658.2 million.
The total procurement cost of the MQ-9 program is $10.14 billion (official DoD estimate) + $1.65 billion in research and development (RDT&E) funds, which means the total estimated program cost is $11.79 billion (numbers are aggregated annual funds spent over the life of the program and no price/inflation adjustment was made). This figure excludes military construction (MILCON) costs in support of the program in the amount of $75.6 million.
The MQ-1 Predator provides the U.S. Air Force with an Over-The-Horizon (OTH), long-endurance, medium-altitude Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance (ISR) and weapons delivery capability. MQ-1C Gray Eagle provides the U.S. Army with a long-endurance, persistent ISR and tactical strike capability. The Gray Eagle also serves as a communications relay. The MQ-9 Reaper performs multi-mission ISR and hunter-killer missions over land and sea in support of U.S. Air Force operations.
The DoD will purchase 19 MQ-1C Gray Eagle UAVs for the Army in FY 2015.
In total, procurement funds in the amount of $270.0 million have been allocated to the MQ-1B Predator and MQ-1C Gray Eagle.
Also, the DoD will purchase 24 MQ-9 Reaper UAVs for the Air Force in FY 2015.
Procurement funds in the amount of $635.9 million have been allocated to the program.
The DoD plans to purchase 17 MQ-1C Gray Eagle UAVs for the Army in FY 2016.
In total, procurement funds in the amount of $389.8 million have been allocated to the MQ-1B Predator and MQ-1C Gray Eagle.
For more information, click to see the FY 2016 MQ-1C Budget.
Also, the DoD plans to purchase 19 MQ-9 Reaper UAVs for the Air Force in FY 2016.
Procurement funds in the amount of $901.4 million have been allocated to the program.
For more information, click to see the FY 2016 MQ-9 Budget.
Source: U.S. Department of Defense (DoD), General Atomics Corp.,
Honeywell and Raytheon.
Last Update: May 28, 2015.
By Joakim Kasper Oestergaard Balle /// (jkasper@bga-aeroweb.com)
General Atomics' MQ-1B Site: MQ-1B Predator
General Atomics' MQ-1C Site: MQ-1C Gray Eagle
General Atomics' MQ-9 Site: MQ-9 Reaper
YouTube: MQ-1 Predator on YouTube
YouTube: MQ-9 Reaper on YouTube
Fact Sheet: MQ-1B Predator Fact Sheet
Fact Sheet: MQ-1C Gray Eagle Fact Sheet
Fact Sheet: MQ-9 Reaper Fact Sheet
Total MQ-1C Program Cost: |
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$4.04 billion ($3.10B procurement + $0.94B RDT&E) |
MQ-1C Procurement Objective: |
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167 aircraft (165 production + 2 development) |
MQ-1 U.S. Defense Budget Charts: |
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Total MQ-9 Program Cost: |
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$11.79 billion ($10.14B procurement + $1.65B RDT&E) |
MQ-9 Procurement Objective: |
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346 aircraft (343 production + 3 development) |
MQ-9 U.S. Defense Budget Charts: |
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| MQ-9 Reaper Purchases (USAF) | MQ-9 Reaper Modifications (USAF) | ||
| Special Forces MQ-9 (SOCOM) | Aircraft Spares and Parts (USAF) | ||
| RDT&E: MQ-9 Reaper (USAF) | RDT&E: Special Forces MQ-9 (SOCOM) |
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Primary Function: Armed reconnaissance, airborne surveillance and target acquisition |
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Primary Function: Long-endurance, persistent ISR and tactical strike capability |
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Primary Function: Unmanned hunter/killer weapon system |
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