Procurement: Buying Predator Bs

Archives

February 8, 2006: The U.S. Air Force has bought another five MQ-9 Predator B UAVs, for $8.3 million each. The original Predator cost $4.5 million each. The "B" model has less endurance (24 hours compared to 40 hours for the A model), but carries more munitions (1.7 tons). Weapons carried include Hellfire missiles, and 250 or 500 pound smart bombs. Typically, the Predator B will go into action carrying 16 Hellfire missiles. The Predator B is meant to be a hunter-killer UAV. It will go into action looking for targets it can immediately attack. The Predator B has been undergoing tests in combat zones for over five years.

 

X

ad

Help Keep Us From Drying Up

We need your help! Our subscription base has slowly been dwindling.

Each month we count on your contributions. You can support us in the following ways:

  1. Make sure you spread the word about us. Two ways to do that are to like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.
  2. Subscribe to our daily newsletter. We’ll send the news to your email box, and you don’t have to come to the site unless you want to read columns or see photos.
  3. You can contribute to the health of StrategyPage.
Subscribe   Contribute   Close