IAI RQ-5 Hunter

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RQ-5 Hunter
Hunter RQ-5.jpg
A U.S. Army Hunter (RQ-5) UAV
Role Unmanned surveillance and reconnaissance aerial vehicle
National origin Israel
Manufacturer TRW (acquired by Northrop Grumman in 2002) / IAI
Introduction1995
Retired2015
Primary user United States Army
Number builtat least 20
A Hunter RQ-5 at the UAVs area in Hatzerim Israeli Air Force Museum Hunter RQ-5 UAV.jpg
A Hunter RQ-5 at the UAVs area in Hatzerim Israeli Air Force Museum

The IAI RQ-5 Hunter unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) was originally intended to serve as the United States Army's Short Range UAV system for division and corps commanders. It took off and landed (using arresting gear) on runways. It used a gimbaled EO/IR sensor to relay its video in real time via a second airborne Hunter over a C-band line-of-sight data link. The RQ-5 is based on the Hunter UAV that was developed by Israel Aerospace Industries.

Contents

Design and development

System acquisition and training started in 1994 but production was cancelled in 1996 due to concerns over program mismanagement. Seven low rate initial production (LRIP) systems of eight aircraft each were acquired, four of which remained in service: one for training and three for doctrine development, exercise, and contingency support. Hunter was to be replaced by the RQ-7 Shadow, but instead of being replaced, the Army kept both systems in operation because the Hunter had significantly larger payload, range, and time-on-station capabilities than the Shadow.

Operational history

MQ-5B Hunter.jpg

In 1995, A Company, 15th Military Intelligence Battalion (Aerial Exploitation) out of Fort Hood, TX was the first Army field unit equipped with the Hunter. A Company conducted multiple successful training rotations to the National Training Center. Then in March 1999, they were deployed to the Republic of Macedonia in support of NATO operations in Kosovo where one was shot down by a Yugoslav Mil Mi-8 Side 7.62mm Machine Gun. During the 7 month operation, the Hunter was flown for over 4,000 hours. Significant operational success in Kosovo led to resumption of production and technical improvements. Hunter was used in Iraq and other military operations since then. The system was also armed with the Viper Strike munitions.

The Army's Unmanned Aircraft Systems Training Battalion at Fort Huachuca, AZ trained soldiers and civilians in the operation and maintenance of the Hunter UAV.

In 2004, the United States Department of Homeland Security, Bureau of Customs and Border Protection, Office of Air and Marine utilized the Hunter under a trial program for border patrol duties. During this program, the Hunter flew 329 flight hours, resulting in 556 detections. [1]

A version armed with the Northrop Grumman GBU-44/B Viper Strike weapon system is known as the MQ-5A/B. [2]

As of October 2012, the U.S. Army had 20 MQ-5B Hunters in service. Retirement of the Hunter was expected to be completed in 2013, [3] but Northrop was awarded a support contract for the Hunter in January 2013, [4] extending its missions into 2014. [5]

On 7 October 2013, the U.S. Army opened a UAS facility at Vilseck Army Airfield in Germany. A letter of agreement between the U.S. and Germany allows the 7th Army Joint Multinational Training Command to use two ‘air bridges’ in the east of the country to train operators, marking the first time a U.S. UAV will fly beyond the limits of military training areas. Two unarmed MQ-5B Hunters were used solely for training drone operators. [6]

From 1996 to January 2014, the MQ-5B Hunter unmanned aerial system flew over 100,000 hours with the U.S. Army. [7]

On 14 March 2014, an RQ-5 was reported downed by a Crimean self-defense unit over Russian occupied Ukrainian territory, [8] although Russia did not substantiate the claim and the Pentagon denies it operated such a vehicle over Crimea. [9]

On 16 December 2015, the Hunter flew its final flight in Army service at Fort Hood. Since entering service in 1995, the aircraft had been deployed to the Balkans, Iraq, and Afghanistan. It was deployed to the Balkans four times between 1999 and 2002, accumulating 6,400 flight hours, and was the first Army UAS to cross into Iraq in 2003, proving itself for the first time in contingency operations as an intelligence asset to commanders at all levels and flying more hours than any other NATO reconnaissance platform. One capability unique to the Hunter was its relay mode that allowed one aircraft to control another at extended ranges or over terrain obstacles. By the end of Operation New Dawn in 2011, Hunters had flown more than 110,000 hours, its battlefield success clearly showing the value of UASs in combat operations as a direct result. While Army operators transitioned to the larger and more capable General Atomics MQ-1C Gray Eagle, the Hunter is being transferred to government-owned, contractor-operated units supporting operations overseas. [10]

International use

In 1998, the Belgian Air Component purchased three B-Hunter UAV-systems, each consisting of six aircraft and two ground control stations. [11] Operational from 2004 in the 80 UAV Squadron, 13 aircraft were in service in 2020. [12] The last Hunter was withdrawn from Belgian service on 28 August 2020, to be replaced by the MQ-9B SkyGuardian. [13]

Specifications

IAI RQ-5 Hunter 3-view line drawing.png

General characteristics

Performance

See also

Related lists

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References

  1. ↑ "Office of Customs and Border Protection, Air and Marine, UAS Presentation" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2022-10-09. Retrieved 2006-10-31.[ permanent dead link ]
  2. ↑ "Northrop Grumman (TRW/IAI) BQM-155/RQ-5/MQ-5 Hunter".
  3. ↑ UAV Growth Continues - Strategypage.com, October 30, 2012
  4. ↑ Northrop gets new Hunter UAS support deal from US Army - Flightglobal.com, January 30, 2013
  5. ↑ Pentagon Awards Northrop $37.3 Million to Support Hunter UAV Work Archived 2015-09-28 at the Wayback Machine - SUASNews.com, January 23, 2013
  6. ↑ United States Army opens new Unmanned Aerial System facility at Vilseck Army Airfield in Germany Archived 2013-10-15 at the Wayback Machine - Armyrecognition.com, 10 October 2013
  7. ↑ Northrop Grumman’s Hunter Unmanned Aircraft System Surpasses 100,000 Combat Flight Hours Archived 2014-01-16 at the Wayback Machine - sUASNews.com, 14 January 2014
  8. ↑ "Russia says intercepted US drone over Crimea: Arms group - Yahoo News". Archived from the original on 2014-03-18. Retrieved 2017-01-14.
  9. ↑ Unmanned Aerial Systems Gear Up For Contested Battlespace - Aviationweek.com, 23 April 2015
  10. ↑ Soldiers bid farewell to Army's oldest unmanned aircraft - Army.mil, 21 December 2015
  11. ↑ Belgian Military Aircraft Archived 2008-12-16 at the Wayback Machine
  12. ↑ "B-HUNTER UAV | Belgian Defence". Archived from the original on 2020-06-27. Retrieved 2020-06-25.
  13. ↑ "Belgian Air Component withdraws last B-Hunter UAV from service". airrecognition.com. 2020-09-01. Retrieved 2021-11-24.
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