Group : Combat Management Systems
Status : Active
Also Known As : Ground Control Station
Origin : United States of America
Contractor : General Atomics
Initial Operational Capability (IOC) : 1996
Total Production : ?
Unitary Cost : USD $40 million

The Ground Control Station (GCS) has been designed by General Atomics to control the Predator UAV, as well as other UAVs fielded within the US Armed Forces. It consists of C-band line-of-sight data-link, Ku-band satellite data-link for beyond the line-of-sight operations, UAVs and the control station. Real time surveillance data is provided to the GCS by the UAVs. The surveillance data can be passed to tactical commanders at the front-line or maritime commanders at sea. The GCS can be deployed mounted on a HMMWV vehicle with only a crew of 3 (1 pilot and 2 sensors operators) required for UAV control operations. However each GCS involves a crew of 55-man for 24-hour operation and maintenance tasks. The whole GCS, crew and UAVs are C-130 transportable. In addition, the GCS can be installed in large platforms such as aircraft, ships and submarines.