Military Aviation :: Tactical Unmanned Air Vehicles :: RQ-2 Pioneer :: RQ-2B Pioneer

RQ-2B Pioneer

Program Status: Retired No Longer Operational
IOC: 1986
Unitary Cost: USD$1,000,000
Also Known As: RQ-2A Pioneer

Origin: United States of America

Contractor/s: AAI Unmanned Aircraft Systems

Description: RQ-2 Pioneer is a land-based and shipborne Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) system developed by Pioneer UAV Inc. in the 1980s. The US Navy (1986), Marine Corps (1987) and Army (1990) procured this UAV to conduct Reconnaissance, Surveillance and Target Acquisition (RSTA) as well as battle damage assessment missions. Its low radar cross section (RCS), reduced silhouette and infrared signature are key elements for aircraft survivability. It is powered by a gasoline motor developing 26-hp.

RQ-2A Pioneer was initially fielded as a land-based asset in 1986. Subsequently, was deployed on battleship USS Iowa (BB 61), USS Wisconsin (BB 64) and three LHA vessels (1987). In the 1990s the US Navy has deployed Pioneer on five/six Austin-class Landing Platform Docks (LPDs). Pioneer saw combat during operations Desert Storm and Desert Shield in 1990 - 1991. USS Iowa and USS Wisconsin employed Pioneer as RSTA with devastating effects against Iraqi coastal defenses in Kuwait.

The US Navy should begin replacing Pioneer at the end of this decade with versatile Fire Scout UAV which is undergoing trials to deliver precision guided weapons in addition to RSTA capabilities. RQ-2B is an improved variant. As of early 2006, this UAV was deployed onboard LPD-4, LPD-7, LPD-9, LPD-12 and LPD-15 (LPD-6 was decommissioned in 2005).

Parent system is the RQ-2 Pioneer
Applications:

Carrier & Landing Ships

LHA 1 Tarawa and LPD 4 Austin

:: Reviews ::

There are 0 reviews
so far

Write your review

:: Specifications ::

Crew: 0

Dimensions
Length: 4.27 meter (168 inch)
Wingspan: 5.15 meter (203 inch)

Performance
Ceiling: 3,700 meter (12,139 foot)
Max Range: 380 kilometer (205 nautical mile)

Power
Max Power at TakeOff: 26 shp (19.4 kW)

Speed
Top Speed at High Altitude: 57 mps (203 kph)

Time
Flight Endurance: 5.50 hour (330 minute)

Weight
Max Takeoff Weight: 189 kilogram (417 pound)
Payload: 34 kilogram (75 pound)

:: News ::

There is 1 news on
8 Nov 2007

US Navy Launches Final Pioneer Flight

:: Operators ::

Operators
	Country	Items	Country	Items
	United States of America	?

fully confirmed operational planned retired cancelled destroyed

:: Image Gallery ::

There are 7 images added on
25 Nov 2006

:: Notes & Resources ::

Last Updated:
Thursday, March 8, 2012

(*) 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)

Leave Feedback | Operators map | Compare Tactical Unmanned Air Vehicles