Journalist on the accident rate of American UAVs

The Washington Post journalist Craig Whitlock conducted a private investigation and found out that last year America lost 24 heavy dronereports blog bmpd.

Evacuation MQ-9 Reaper, crashed due to operator error near Niamey (Niger)

One drone was lost in the US, six in Afghanistan, four in the Horn of Africa (US Air Force base in Djibouti), three in Iraq, one each in Libya, Kuwait, Turkey, and Syria. For the two accidents, the countries are not officially listed, but presumably it is Mali and Yemen.
The main causes of losses are operator error and electrical system malfunction. Confirmed only one combat loss: 17 March 2015, the Syrian air defense was shot down in the province of Latakia MQ-1 Predator.

In addition, the author writes, “The Pentagon has confirmed the loss of four Gray Eagle drones, full MQ-1 Predator counterparts. Three are in Afghanistan and one is in Iraq. ”

Flight time compared to 2014 drones decreased by 8%.

According to the information, impact drones in addition to the US Armed Forces "are in service with the NSA, the CIA, NASA, the Armed Forces of Great Britain, France and Italy."

According to the journalist, “about half of the MQ-269 Predator drones received from 1 were about half lost — about 2001 units remained in operational readiness.” All of them by 140 should be completely replaced by the MQ-2018 Reaper.

Currently, work is being carried out in the United States to upgrade the backup system, which will increase the flight time on the emergency gang from one to 10 hours. To date, upgraded 47 drones.

Comments

[Ami du peuple]

The main causes of losses are operator error and a malfunction in the electrical system

Of course, crooked operators and dead batteries are to blame. And to shoot down the "Predator" or to intercept its control - it is impossible that you!

[vlad66]

of the 269 MQ-1 Predator drones received since 2001, about half have been lost - about 140 units remain in operational readiness ”

And for some reason I was not upset by this news, as the saying goes, and to hell with them.

[cniza]

And even pleased.

[Temples]

The heaviest drone in history is the Buran!
He took off, circled the planet and landed safely.

And let these tumble down in hundreds.

[Tersky]

Quote: Ami du peuple

Well, of course, the crooked operators and discharged batteries are to blame.

You are mistaken ....Member of the US House of Representatives Duncan Hunter. Having visited Ukraine on a study tour, the California Republican told his congressional colleagues the following: "Joking aside, the Russians do not shoot down Ukrainian drones - they take them for themselves. They take them to Russian territory, where they land." The words of the congressman are quoted by the Washington Times., Not only that they fight, but also fly away, and with a wedge ... I just want to say the phrase of a famous character that has become an aphorism - "That's it, Mikhalych !!" .. ...

[Sid.74]

Quote: Tersky

That's it, Mikhalych !! ".. ...

Greetings, Victor ..

The Iranians were able to immobilize and arrest two US boats by turning off GPS systems.

http://theantimedia.org/the-story-you-arent-being-told-about-iran-capturing-2-am
erican-vessels /

[Tersky]

Quote: Sid.74

The Iranians were able to immobilize and arrest two US boats by turning off GPS systems.

Oh well... , I wonder who the "switch" was purchased from, if not from us .. Zhenya, !

[Mikhail Krapivin]

Yeah, with Putin on the hang glider at the head of the wedge! :)

[NordUral]

I really hope so. Nice to read that.

[shadow]

Interesting. From one hour to ten. This is in 1000%. What will they put there? Nuclear power plant? Well, the flag is there, the drum is also there, and the battery is there. Maybe fly.

[Tusv]

Quote: Shadows

Interesting. From one hour to ten. This is in 1000%. What will they put there? Nuclear power plant?

This is an emergency flight. And so, the Rc-135 Moskk PVOnikam pecks up to 11 hours, Tr-1 up to 14, without any atomic mover

[SR1959]

Respected! RC-135, with three air refueling, roamed in the visibility zone of one radar for 23 hours .. 1985 - the area opposite the test site, which is now called "Kura" ...
taking into account that he started from Elmendorf and returned there.
And about the UAV emergency flight - I agree .. Much depends on the power supply, type, task to be performed, flight parameters and much more ... in principle, it can be brought up to 10 hours from 1 hour without too much stress ...

[opus]

Quote: Shadows

What will they put there? Nuclear power plant?

MQ-1 Predator - maximum flight duration up to 40 hours (from height),
rated 20-24 h
without any nuclear power plant.

PD Rotax 914 UL Power, l. p.: 105
for MQ-1B PREDATOR Rotax 914F l / s 115


fuel stock Fuel Capacity: 665 pounds (100 gallons)

But of course they will not put a second mini Rotax at 50l \ s.

Their power supply (generator) "flies" due to emergency, the avionics does not function

Therefore, 3 (!) Independent power sources (batteries) will be supplied, so that in the event of a generator failure, it will provide power to the avionics in emergency mode and return to the base without any problems.
10 hours is quite feasible (considering modern battery capacities)
+
increased reliability of avionics
+
New communication capabilities, including the ARC-210 VHF / UHF with a Wingtip antenna, allowing simultaneous communication between multiple air-to-air and air-to-ground sides via secure data channels
+
Increased data transfer capacity (bandwidth and speed)
+
The new lever is basically the chassis, which will allow transporting heavier payloads,max take-off weight or use additional fuel.
+
new sensors and a new processor (like from Intel) in the avionics and control center = now it will be guaranteed to control only one operator, automatic take-off and landing (without operator)

[Neko75]

Electronics such a thing and can fail. Although it seems to me that the number of combat losses is much higher than declared. As always hushed up, hiding.

[Primus pilus]

Accidents will always be, this is inevitable.

[SAM 5]

America lost 24 heavy drones last year

About $ 500 million down the drain.

[Tusv]

And also, according to the representatives of the glorious APU, Russia is stealing dozens of them.
One combat loss and 23 non-combat? This is something. It’s time in the US Army to introduce responsibility

[Blondy]

Quote: Tusv

And also, according to the representatives of the glorious APU, Russia is stealing dozens of them.
One combat loss and 23 non-combat? This is something. It’s time in the US Army to introduce responsibility

Well, this news from the banter in the "world survey" went - I quote:
So what do we have there next? American drones. Write: "everyone flew to Russia." What does it mean: "how did you fly away"? Do they have wings? There is. So they flew away. The Russians are luring them with something. They fly. So, write further "...
I would not take this for reading a coin, here the option of a regular sale (by the same Russian or Donetsk) is much more likely.

[Tusv]

I would not take this for reading a coin, here the option of a regular sale (by the same Russian or Donetsk) is much more likely.

On the banks of the Tiber - Tiber, on the expanses of the independent UKRadut, but in Pisa everything is quiet.
We know where the coin is. But the excuse is taken by the Americans for clean

[SMICKER]

Who will tell the analytics of the loss of drones from other countries using them? Are there any statistics about Russia?

[Thunderbolt]

Quote: SMICK

Are there any statistics about Russia?

In this case, it will be correct to compare the statistics of precisely heavy drones. And we do not have them yet.

[crambol]

The Pentagon is of the same interest. That's a coincidence?

[EvgNik]

The US Marines, when they were arrested by the Iranians, cried. UAV operators, when they see the enemy, apparently poop. In panties. Here drones and fall. From loss of control.

[Great-grandfather of Zeus]

The drone bird is stupid! I wanted to drink water, it started to drop very quickly, but I fell! But, most importantly, I didn’t drink water!

[Wiruz]

In the USA, drones disappear, in our country they suddenly appear.

[voyaka uh]

That's why they are BES pilots. Shot or crashed - a piece of iron - no
emotions, then pictures of captured or killed pilots, risky
rescue operations with the death of more people ...

"Currently, work is underway in the United States to modernize the backup system,
which will increase the flight time on the emergency gang from one to 10 hours "///

That is right. Lost control, communication with the operator - turned around
and saws on GPS to the base itself.

[31rus]

Dear, it’s clear, of course, such news is encouraging, but it would still be an analysis of how many sorties, the intensity of hostilities in these areas, the presence of air defense and electronic warfare, the ratio of cost and effectiveness at the time of the loss of UAVs, operator load, service

[iouris]

Not "cost - effectiveness", but "benefit - costs".

[Pvi1206]

New fun for hackers- intercept drones. True, for this they need a fairly powerful transceiver.

[opus]

Who is interested

The manual, called the Drone Survival Guide ("Guide to the rescue from drones"), can be downloaded on the project website.

 Show / Hide text

http://www.dronesurvivalguide.org/

(in Russian the same in MS Word, in English with pictures in PDF)

UAVs: a survival guide
For unofficial use only

US Armed Forces Global Deployment

English Russian

...
Hacking drones
UAVs are remotely controlled. Their pilots can be thousands of kilometers away at ground control points. The pilot controls the aircraft through a satellite data channel. By drowning or intercepting the communication channel, you can intervene in the control of the drone. The communication channel can be encrypted, but often not.
1. Interception. A more sophisticated method is to use a satellite dish, TV tuner, and skygrabber to intercept the drone's frequencies. Both data sent from the satellite to the drone and going in the opposite direction can be intercepted.
2. Interference. Broadcasting on the frequencies used by the drone may cut off communication with its operator.
3. Fake GPS signals. Portable GPS transmitters can send false GPS signals and disrupt the drone's navigation system. This can be used to guide a drone along a trajectory where it will crash, or even to intercept and land on a runway.

Sources:
'Health Ranger's intelligence analysis of military drones: payloads, countermeasures and more', www.naturalnews.com, July 16, 2012. By Mike Adams
'The Al-Qaida Papers - Drones', This document is one of several found by The Associated Press in buildings recently occupied by al-Qaida fighters in Timbuktu, Mali. Associated Press, Feb 2013. 'Evading Thermal Imaging And Radar Detection', United States Militia, Special Forces.

[mvg]

Quote: opus

Hacking drones

it would be better to article how to crack iPhone 5, with signal interception and response from the hacker domain .. the planes are already tired
Py.Sy .: If not difficult, of course

[Samen]

For two accidents, countries are not officially indicated, but presumably these are Mali and Yemen.

I can assume that this is in the Crimea, our operators landed 2 pieces ... taking control. Who remembers?

[iouris]

Absolute numbers say nothing. In addition, everything is relative. Quantitative indicators are needed, in particular, the average raid per accident (according to the severity of the consequences). It should be clear how to evaluate the total beneficial effect of the use of UAVs, how to compare efficiency with manned aircraft. Since the author does not provide such data, it is difficult to comment on the information.

[Performance]

Predator, Ripper ... what unkind names the most free and democratic country gives to its unmanned democratizers.

[Mikhail Krapivin]

Quote: Efficiency

Predator, Ripper ... what unkind names the most free and democratic country gives to its unmanned democratizers.

Which country, such and names.

[vch62388]

However ... Each crash of a combat aircraft (in a combat, training or training flight) is a blow to the nation’s gene pool. This is the death of smart, healthy, well-educated men, in the preparation of which, among other things, huge investments have been made. The loss of the drone against this background is a technical breakdown, quite easily eliminated or compensated. It is disappointing that the RF Army has not yet allowed itself to lose the glands (albeit very smart and expensive) instead of the lives of their best guys. The drone operator, through whose fault he was lost, will be severely punished, including dismissal. No one will return the pilot to the family and the country.
PS It is necessary to develop this area of ​​arms and military equipment. This is promising. YET ours cannot boast of victories in this industry. Yes, shock drones are expensive, "stupid", depending on many factors, but in many cases they allow you to save the lives of your guys, especially in a war with bandits (irregular formations).