Saturday, April 25, 2015

AFRL puts belly EO ball in Cesna206T for stateside MQ-1B Predator Training Surrogate

CAP Cessna 182 aircraft with wing mounted turret
used for Surrogate Predator 1,2
CAP Cessna 206T to be used for Enhanced Surrogate Predator 3
AF Research Laboratory redesigns mock UAV
AFRL's Directed Energy Directorate at Kirtland Air Force Base modified a Civil Air Patrol Cessna 182 aircraft to be used for military training exercises. The Surrogate Predator has intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance sensors that provide the capability to mimic a Predator unmanned aerial vehicle.
MQ-1 Predator

AFRL, which has been part of the Surrogate Predator Program since 2008, recently completed and delivered the Enhanced Surrogate Predator 3 to CAP, according to program manager J. P. Sena.
"The Enhanced Surrogate Predator 3 is a redesign of the first two surrogate predators, which had a wing-mounted turret," Sena said. "We designed the Cessna 206T with a retractable turret stowed in the belly of the aircraft that allows for longer flight times by reducing drag when the turret is not in operation. The operator station was also designed with ergonomics in mind to allow for more leg room, ease of controls, central location for all the equipment and a plethora of capabilities for the sensor operator."

 Related/ Background

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