Existing comment:
Unmanned Aircraft:
When the skies aren't safe for human pilots -- because of enemy fire or contaminated by biological or chemical weapons -- the RQ-1 Predator can take over. This unmanned vehicle performs surveillance and reconnaissance at medium altitude, and can stay airborne for nearly 24 hours at a time. Its three main components are the aircraft itself, a ground control station, and a satellite link.
The US Defense Department developed the Predator in the mid-1990s for intelligence gathering in areas of moderate risk. |