The armed Predator carries two Hellfire missiles, a popular missile developed by Lockheed Martin for the US and her allies. There are a number of variants of the Hellfire missile that allow it to be used in a number of situations and on numerous vehicles, the most frequent being the Apache helicopter.
The Hellfire II on the predator can be equipped with a few different warheads, including a 20 lb high explosive anti-tank (HEAT) shaped charge warhead, blast fragmentation, and metal augmented charge (MAC). The MAC is a thermobaric weapon that utilizes a long pulse blast wave and uses surrounding air as an oxidizer. The effect is increased damage and a lower probability for humans to survive the blast over a conventional charge. The HEAT round is a shaped charge that uses the same technology the insurgents have been using in Iraq to penetrate our armor in roadside bombs. It consists of a copper lined cone surrounded by a high explosive. When the warhead reaches its 
target, typically the detonation system uses an internal device that is actuated at impact (think of a rod slamming into a detonator). The explosive detonates and turns the copper into a supersonic jet of molten metal. This concentrated energy can puncture most armor. Contrary to popular belief, the copper does not melt its way through the armor. Some HEAT rounds have a tandem configuration where two shaped charges are used on advanced armor.
The homing device is either radar controlled or is a laser-guidance system that uses a laser to reflect off its target. Once fired, the missile locks on to its target and the pilot can forget about it, hence the “fire-and-forget” expression. If laser-lock is lost, the missile guidance system can reset and re-engage.
Little performance characteristics are immediately available for the missile, as expected and desired. Range is typically 8,000 meters, or 5 miles. The speed given by some sources is Mach 1.3, or approximately 1500 ft/s. This means the missile can travel its effective range in 17 seconds. Although the service ceiling is 25,000 ft, the onboard
sensors are more effective at 10,000 ft.
Predators, although they can be controlled from a small desert trailer in the US and flown in the deserts of the Middle East, are most effective when there are special forces on the ground near the target to verify intelligence and allow for minimal collateral damage. Having the controller on the same side of the world as the drone helps to avoid delay in target acquisition as well.
Loading ...
Raging Kitty