Data Quality86%
MASS(Military Archive Scoring System)
ⓘ Regardless of era, the same scoring system applies to all units in the reconnaissance / surveillance drones category.
01 / Overview
Predator
Country
Prime contractor
Production
1995–2018
Quantity
360
Operators
Conflicts
💰 PERFORMANCE / PRICE ASSESSMENT Methodology ↗
RECONNAISSANCE / SURVEILLANCE DRONES · POST-COLD WAR
11
PERFORMANCE/PRICE
92
UNIT COST (2025 USD)
—
ⓘ Performance/Price and MASS score are computed across all units in the reconnaissance / surveillance drones category, regardless of era.
02 / Specs & Design
◎General6MOD.6
- UAV ClassMALE
- Category (MALE/HALE/Tactical/Micro)Reconnaissance / Surveillance Drones
- First Flight1994
- Service Entry Year1995
- Primary RoleReconnaissance, surveillance, strike
- In ServiceYes
◈Airframe6MOD.6
- Length8.23 m
- Wingspan14.8 m
- Height2.1 m
- Empty Weight512.568 kg
- Max Takeoff Weight1,020 kg
- Low ObservableNo
▣Powerplant5MOD.5
- Engine TypeRotax 914F
- Number of Engines1
- Engine Power86 kW
- Electric PropulsionNo
- Propeller / Configurationconstant-speed pusher propeller
◇Performance6MOD.6
- Top Speed216.665 km/h
- Cruise Speed130 km/h
- Service Ceiling7,620 m
- Range1,250 km
- Endurance24
- Maximum Payload204 kg
◆Payload & Sensors6MOD.6
- EO/IR SensorYes
- SAR / GMTI RadarYes
- SIGINT PayloadYes
- Laser DesignatorYes
- Sensor Payload Weight204 kg
- Comms RelayYes
▤Armament5MOD.5
- ArmedYes
- Hardpoints2
- Weapons Payload360 kg
- Weapon TypesAGM-114 Hellfire, AIM-92 Stinger, AGM-176 Griffin
- Air-to-Ground MissilesYes
⬢Control & Autonomy5MOD.5
- Control TypeRemote piloted
- Satellite (BLOS) LinkYes
- Autonomous CapableNo
- Swarming CapableNo
- Automatic Takeoff/LandingYes
▲Production3MOD.3
- Total Built360
- Operators5
- Variants1
◎Service History4MOD.4
- Retirement Year2018
- Production Start1995
- Production End2018
- Operational StatusRetired by USAF in 2018; limited service elsewhere
03 / History
SERVICE LIFESPANStill in Service
- 1945First deployment: Cold War
- 1995Production started
- 2013Sale: United Arab Emirates · $197 M
- 2018Production ended
31
years in service
23
years in production
360
units produced
6
countries operating
ⓘ The producing country still actively operates it.
04 / Conflicts
PREDATOR · CONFLICTS SERVED IN0% win
Total Conflicts
1
Victories
0
Ongoing
0
Losses
0
ⓘ Shown only from conflicts recorded in our database.
05 / Operators
PredatorSALES2records
| Year | Buyer | Quantity | Amount | Present Value (2025) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | — | $197.0 M | $272.3 M | |
| — | 4 | — | — |
ⓘ "Present Value" is an estimated amount adjusted for inflation.
06 / MASS Score
RECONNAISSANCE / SURVEILLANCE DRONES RANKING Reconnaissance / Surveillance Drones · Post-Cold War
MASS RANKINGSMASS ↗
47RECONNAISSANCE / SURVEILLANCE DRONES11POST-COLD WAR · RECONNAISSANCE / SURVEILLANCE DRONES797UNITED STATES · ALL WEAPONS6PERFORMANCE/PRICE · RECONNAISSANCE / SURVEILLANCE DRONES
ⓘ Rankings are within theReconnaissance / Surveillance Dronescategory.
📖 TERMS ON THIS PAGE9terms
Air-to-Ground Missiles are guided missiles fired from aircraft to attack ground targets. They enable aircraft to engage and destroy enemy ground positions, vehicles, and installations.
Operational state of a drone where weapons systems are enabled and ready for engagement.
Automatic Takeoff/Landing is a UAV capability that enables a drone to initiate and complete takeoff and landing sequences autonomously using onboard sensors and control software.
A capability enabling drones to relay communication signals between units, extending operational range and maintaining network connectivity in combat environments.
Electro-optical/infrared sensor combining daylight cameras and thermal imagers for real-time target detection, tracking, and identification in military drones.
A device that emits a laser beam to mark targets for precision-guided munitions, enabling accurate strikes by designating coordinates for laser-homing weapons.
Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) and Ground Moving Target Indicator (GMTI) radar are airborne radar systems used to detect, track, and image moving or stationary targets on the ground, regardless of weather or lighting conditions.
A communication link between a drone and its control station via satellite relay, enabling beyond-line-of-sight (BLOS) operations.
These terms are listed automatically because they appear on this page.full encyclopedia →
📚 Sources