Wed, Oct 14, 2009
On July 28th, EAA AirVenture attendees watched the historic
arrival of a Predator B Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) as it landed
at Wittman Regional Airport for the first time. Kevin Krogh,
an Air Interdiction Agent with the U.S. Customs and Border
Protection agency, piloted the aircraft’s first landing as it
touched down in front of excited onlookers.
First deployed by the Office of Air and Marine in 2005, the CBP
currently operates five Predator B UASs. Four aircraft
support southern border patrol from the UAS Operations Center in
Sierra Vista, Arizona, and starting in January of 2009, an
additional aircraft supports the northern border patrol directed
from Grand Forks, North Dakota.
The Predator B UAS is equipped with an upgraded Raytheon
multi-spectral targeting system and electro-optical/infrared sensor
system that vastly improves the operational effectiveness in CBP
missions. Powered by the Honeywell TPE 331-10T turboprop
engine, the aircraft is designed for long-endurance, high-altitude
missions including reconnaissance, surveillance, and targeting
support.
Without the limitations of on board pilots, the system is able
to conduct multiple missions simultaneously. This extended
endurance and payload capacity allows for the aircraft to support
not just the CBP, but also other Homeland Security agencies
including the U.S. Coast Guard, FEMA, and the U.S. Immigration and
Customs Enforcement office. The CBP’s Predator Bs have
flown over 1,500 flight hours of border security missions
contributing to the seizure of more than 15,000 pounds of illegal
contraband and the apprehension of over 5,000 illegal aliens.
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