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To: okie01
Could it have been a fuel consideration? Sigonella is 480 miles from Benghazi and a Hellfire would have increased its time to target and its loitering time.

Maybe. The Predator carries ~720 lbs of fuel. Two Hellfires would add ~215 lbs. There are max takeoff weight considerations…

21 posted on 10/30/2012 5:00:34 PM PDT by TankerKC (If Mitt Romney is elected, everyone in the US will die!)
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To: TankerKC

SPECIFICATIONS

• Crew: None
• Landing Type: runway
• Launch Type: runway
• Power Plant: Honeywell TP331-10 turboprop engine, 950 SHP (712 kW)
• Fuel Capacity: 4,000 lb (1800 kg)
• Wingspan: 66 ft (20 m)
• Height: 12.5 ft (3.6 m)
• Empty weight: 3,700 lb (2200 kg)
• Max takeoff weight: 10,500 lb (4760 kg)


27 posted on 10/30/2012 5:10:10 PM PDT by kabar
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To: TankerKC

WEAPONS AND ARMAMENTS

• 7 Hardpoints
• Up to 1,500 lb (680 kg) on the two inboard weapons stations[64]
• Up to 750 lb (340 kg) on the two middle stations[64]
• Up to 150 lb (68 kg) on the outboard stations [64]
• Center station not used
• Up to 14 AGM-114 Hellfire air to ground missiles can be carried or four Hellfire missiles and two 500 lb (230 kg) GBU-12 Paveway II laser-guided bombs. The 500 lb (230 kg) GBU-38 Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) can also be carried. Testing is underway to support the operation of the AIM-92 Stinger air-to-air missile.

- Trading off some of the missiles, the MQ-9 Reaper can carry laser guided bombs, such as the GBU-12. The availability of high performance sensors and large capacity of precision guided weapons enable the new Reaper to operate as an efficient “Hunter-Killer” platform, seeking and engaging targets at high probability of success. It is equipped with an L-3 Communications Tactical Common Datalink (TCDL)

- Tests are underway to allow for the addition of the AIM-92 Stinger air-to-air missile. Air Force believes that the Predator B will give the service an improved “deadly persistence” capability, with the RPV flying over a combat area night and day waiting for a target to present itself

- In this role an armed RPV neatly complements piloted strike aircraft. A piloted strike aircraft can be used to drop larger quantities of ordnance on a target while a cheaper RPV can be kept in operation almost continuously, with ground controllers working in shifts, carrying a lighter ordnance load to destroy targets


29 posted on 10/30/2012 5:12:55 PM PDT by kabar
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