Plans for further tests of armed General Atomics RQ-1 Predators are being developed by the US Air Force following the first firing of a laser guided Lockheed Martin AGM-114 Hellfire from the medium-altitude unmanned air vehicle (UAV).
Gen John Jumper, head of Air Combat Command, is reviewing the Phase I test results to determine when the more demanding Phase II will begin. A go-ahead is expected soon.
The firing test took place on 21 February at the Indian Springs Air Force Auxiliary Airfield, near Nellis air force base, Nevada. The feasibility demonstration flight was preceded by two inert Hellfire launches on 16 February and earlier on 21 February.
Launched from 2,000ft (610m) altitude, all three weapons hit their intended targets, stationary tanks. The Predator was fitted with the so-called Kosovo ball turret, that allows the UAV to self-designate laser-guided weapons. Links between the ground and the UAV were line-of-sight, rather than using the Predator's satellite communications capability.
Phase II will test the Predator/ Hellfire combination under more realistic conditions against moving targets and using non-line-of-sight firings from Predator's normal 15,000ft operating altitude.
Re-engineering work on the missile is required before the second set of test flights as it is optimised for use from low flying helicopters rather than Predator's normal operating heights. The recent test was within the Hellfire's typical firing envelope, says the USAF.
The USAF foresees arming UAVs with miniaturised munitions, which are in development, to perform limited attacks against time critical, mobile targets. Continued success in demonstrating armed Predator could lead to development of an operational requirements document.
Source: Flight International
