RQ-1 PREDATOR® HELLFIRE MISSILE TESTS “TOTALLY SUCCESSFUL” [21 Feb 01]
“Capping a three-part series of demonstration flight tests on Feb. 21, Predator successfully aimed and launched a ‘live’ Hellfire-C, laser-guided missile that struck an unmanned, stationary Army tank on the ground at Indian Springs Air Force Auxiliary Airfield near Nellis Air Force Base, Nev.,” said Major Ray Pry, Predator program manager, Big Safari Program Office at ASC’s Reconnaissance Aircraft System Program Office (SPO).
“This first recorded missile launch from a UAV took place on Feb. 16 at approximately 11:05 a.m. Pacific Daylight Time (PDT),” he said. “Equipped with a single, inert Hellfire-C missile, the Predator, using its LOS communication band and infrared ‘Kosovo’ laser-ball, aimed and struck the tank-turret about six inches to the right of dead-center, spinning the turret around about 30 degrees. It made a big, gray dent in the turret— just beautiful.”
Memo to Major Pry: Your weapon system also works just fine on terrorist vehicles.
