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Hunter
IOC: 1995
Also Known As
B-Hunter
MQ-5B Hunter
RQ-5A
Origin
Israel
Contractor/s
Israel Aerospace Industries Ltd. (IAI)
Family Members
E-Hunter
Hunter II
Bombs:
Viper Strike
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Description:
Hunter is a short-range, multi-mission unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) developed in partnership between Northrop Grumman and IAI in the early 1990s. In the mid 1990s the US Army acquired the RQ-5A Hunter to conduct reconnaissance missions. Since then this UAV evolved accepting new payloads and expanding its role spectrum. Currently, Hunters are suitable for surveillance, reconnaissance, target-acquisition, artillery adjustment, damage assessment missions. The French and Belgian Armies also purchased the Hunter to perform tactical reconnaissance. Belgium's Hunters are an upgraded variant called the B-Hunter and manufactured by the Belgian Eagle Consortium.
Hunter take off and landing are done in a conventional way on the runway. In addition, assisted by a rocket/booster Hunter can execute a short take off and emergency landing by a built-in parachute. Real time communication between the ground control station and the UAV can be bone through line-of-sight data link or beyond line-of-sight data link which requires an airborne data relay. Standard payload includes CCD-TV and IR sensors that can be replaced/complemented by Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) or any other payload furnished by the end customer. The Hunter system conducted successfully combat missions with US Army in the Balkans (1990s) and Iraq (2003-?) accumulating more than 19,000 combat flight hours since its entry into service with the US Army.
US Army's MQ-5B is an upgraded multi-mission variant of reconnaissance RQ-5A aircraft. This new aircraft has a new wing section which results longer than previous models (34-ft vs. 29-ft). Powered by a heavy fuel engine and equipped with modern redundant avionics MQ-5B features extended range, endurance (21/15 hours vs. 12 hours), higher altitude (18,000-ft vs. 15,000-ft), and weapons capability such as Viper Strike. The gross weight also increased to 1,950 pounds. The maiden flight occurred in July 2005 over Libby Air Field, Fort Huachuca, Arizona. Moreover, MQ-5B is compatible with One System ground control station developed for Shadow, Hunter and Fire Scout UAVs.
Specifications
Accommodation: Unmanned
Dimensions: Length 6.9 m, Wingspan 8.9 m
Weights: Max Weight 727 kg (1,603 lb), Payload 114 kg (251 lb)
Performance: Ceiling 4,600 m (15,092 ft), Cruise Speed 46 mps (166 kph), Endurance 12 hours, Max Range 600 km (324 nm)
Power: Power 68 shp
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Notes
(*) lead contractor
IOC: Initial Operating Capability
FOC: Full Operating Capability
CEP: Circular Error Probable
Comm: Commissioning Date
Meters (m) Kilometers (km) Nautic Miles (nm) Inch (in) Yard (yd) Foot (ft) Millimeter (mm)
Pound (lb) Kilogram (kg) kN (KiloNewton) Ton (t)
Meters per Second (mps) Kilometers per Hour (kph) Knot (kt) Miles per Hour (mph)
Liter (l) Galon (gl)
Year (yr) Minutes (min) Second (sec)
Shaft-Horse-Power (shp)
Last Updated: Saturday, November 22, 2008
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