The first Predator B prototype uninhabited air vehicle (UAV) is powered by a Honeywell TPE-331-10T turboprop engine, rated to 700 shaft horsepower, driving a rear-mounted, three-blade, controllable- pitch propeller. The Predator B is 36 feet long and has a wingspan of 64 feet, about 16 feet longer than the Predator. It is distinguished from its smaller cousin by its Y-shaped tail, with a ventral vertical fin. It is designed for a maximum gross takeoff weight of 6,400 lbs. The first turbine-powered aircraft built by GA-ASI, the Predator B is designed to fly as long as 25 hours at up to 200 knots indicated airspeed at altitudes as high as 45,000 feet, while carrying payloads of up to 750 lbs. The aircraft are designed to meet Federal Air Regulations Part 23 requirements.

The first Predator B prototype — aircraft 001 — logged its first flight on February 2, 2001 from the GA-ASI flight operations facility at El Mirage, CA. After an initial series of airworthiness test flights and downtime for various software and systems upgrades, the Predator B 001 flew a second series of flight tests in mid-summer 2001, aimed at expansion of its flight envelope and validation of its autonomous flight capabilities. The prototype reached a maximum sustainable altitude of 48,300 feet during one of those flights over the Edwards Air Force Base test range.

The Altair technology-demonstration variant for NASA is designed to carry an equivalent payload for as long as 32 hours at up to 52,000 feet. It has a maximum range of about 4,200 miles and can carry up to 750 pounds of sensors, radar, communications, and imaging equipment in its forward fuselage. The Altair is 34 feet long, and has a wingspan of 86 feet, 22 feet longer than the Predator B’s 64-foot wingspan. Extensions of 11 feet will be added to each wingtip, giving the Altair an overall wingspan of 86 feet with an aspect ratio of 23.5. It also will be powered by the TPE-331-10 turboprop engine.

NASA’s Earth Science Enterprise has established a stringent set of requirements for the Altair/Predator B to demonstrate its capability to serve as a high-altitude remotely or autonomously operated airborne platform for Earth science missions. The requirements include: