THE PREDATOR UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLE (UAV) FLIES ABOVE USS CARL VINSON (CVN 70) ON A SIMULATED NAVY RECONNAISSANCE FLIGHT HEADED BY COMMAND CARRIER GROUP ONE ON DECEMBER 5, 1995, ABOUT 100 MILES OFF THE SAN DIEGO COASTLINE. THE FLIGHT IS THE PREDATOR’S FIRST MARITIME MISSION WITH A CARRIER BATTLE GROUP; PROVIDING “NEAR REAL-TIME” INFRARED AND COLOR VIDEO TO THE SHIP DURING ITS FLIGHT. THE PREDATOR, LAUNCHED FROM SAN NICHOLAS ISLAND 0FF THE SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA COASTLINE, IS CAPABLE OF OVER 50 HOURS OF NON-STOP FLIGHT AND IS OPERATED BY A JOINT ARMED SERVICES DETACHMENT. THE DETACHMENT CONSISTS OF A CREW OF MILITARY PILOTS, TECHNICIANS, OPERATORS AND ANALYSTS. THE NAVY’S PLANS FOR THE PREDATOR IN FUTURE EXERCISES AND OPERATIONS INCLUDE SHIP RECONNAISSANCE, BATTLE-DAMAGE ASSESSMENT, AND SEARCH AND RESCUE MISSIONS. PREDATOR HAS A WINGSPAN OF 48.4 FEET, A LENGTH OF 26.7 FEET AND WEIGHS APPROXIMATELY 1500 POUNDS WHEN FULLY FUELED. COST OF THE AIRCRAFT IS AROUND 3.2 MILLION DOLLARS. AVERAGE SPEED IS APPROXIMATELY 70 KNOTS.
