US Air Force Awards AFC
Contract for the GBS Ground Terminal
Radome for the Predator
Unmanned Reconnaissance Aircraft

RQ-1A Predator is a long endurance, medium altitude unmanned aircraft system for surveillance and reconnaissance missions.

Ocala, Florida, January 02/Internet --- Antennas for Communications (AFC) announced today that it was awarded a contract with the US Air Force for the manufacture of GBS radomes supporting the ground terminal for the Predator unmanned reconnaissance aircraft. RQ-1A or RQ-1B Predator is a long endurance, medium altitude unmanned aircraft system for surveillance and reconnaissance missions. Surveillance imagery from synthetic aperture radar, video cameras and a forward looking infra-red (FLIR) can be distributed in real time both to the front line soldier and to the operational commander or worldwide in real time via satellite communication links. It has a Ku-band satellite data link to provide over-the-horizon mission capabilities. Predators are currently in production for the US Air Force and are operational with the USAF 11th and 15th Reconnaissance Squadrons.

A typical Predator system configuration would include four aircraft, one ground control system and one Trojan Spirit II data distribution terminal.

Prototype picture of radome supporting the ground terminal for the Predator unmanned reconnaissance aircraft.

The Predator air vehicle is 27-ft. in length and has a 49-ft. wingspan. The system operates at an altitude up to 45,000-ft. and at a range of 400 nautical miles. The endurance of the air vehicle is more than 40 hours and the cruise speed is over 70 knots. The air vehicle is equipped with UHF and VHF radio relay links, a C-band line-of-sight data link which has a range of 150 nautical miles and UHF and Ku-band satellite data links.

In a letter of appreciation ….. "The events of September 11 have had an impact upon Americans everywhere. The Air Force had a need for antenna radomes to be manufactured quickly and AFC responded with warm appreciative patriotism. I am certain that this has had an impact on your existing customers, which is why I am all the more grateful to you for supporting our urgent need" said Robert S. Moser, Major USAF, Project Engineer. "Please accept my heartfelt thanks and gratitude for AFC's contribution to OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM."

Antennas for Communications manufactures satellite and terrestrial antennas, radomes, microwave and waveguide components and Tallguide ®, an ultra low transmission loss waveguide. The company serves the satellite, broadcast, communications, cable, radar, weather and government industry worldwide.

For more information on AFC's radome product line, please refer to AFC's Radome Network Home Page.

A complete Internet WWW AFC site index may be found in Antennas for Communications (AFC) Home Page Document Summary List. Additional press announcements may be found in the press release section of the site index.

 Return to AFC Profile  Return to Radome Network Home Page   Return to AFC Home Page