Source: AFRICOMUS Africa Command yesterday released the photo above of the MQ-9 Reaper returning to its new Seychelles base after an anti-piracy mission on November 4. The photo shows a payload under the wing that I am unable to identify. I believe it is a signals intelligence sensor of some kind. It could also be just a fuel tank. Or, maybe even a wide area camera, assuming there's a lens on the bottom of that thing. Click on the image to see the full-size picture.
I have emailed AFRICOM's public affairs office, asking them to identify the payload. I'm not optimistic that I'll get a useful response.
In the meantime, what do you guys -- and my blog commenters seem to be an all-male group, by the way -- think?
on November 11, 2009 2:20 PM | Reply
My bet is on a fuel tank that acts as a counterweight to whatever is mounted under the port wing... there's something mounted there with a fin sticking out, but not much is visible.
on November 11, 2009 2:30 PM | Reply
I wouldn't go with fuel tank, as it seems to have some sort of air inlet on the front, perhaps to power a generator. On the other hand, there are no obvious optical viewports or radoms... Mystery :)
on November 11, 2009 2:32 PM | Reply
I wouldn't go with fuel tank, as it seems to have some sort of air inlet on the front, perhaps to power a generator. On the other hand, there are no obvious optical viewports or radoms... Mystery :)
on November 11, 2009 2:36 PM | Reply
My guess is some sort of data link pod.
on November 11, 2009 3:09 PM | Reply
Here's the initial response from AFRICOM PAO (and former colleague of mine) Vince Crawley, who -- bless him -- is even working on a US holiday.
"The object is part of the sensor payload. Fuel is carried internally on the aircraft. We'll check once folks are back in their offices to see if there's anything more we can add. "
on November 11, 2009 3:24 PM | Reply
They gave you an answer? That's surprising...
If its a sensor, it has to be Electromagnetic sensor, because an optical sensor would just duplicate the turret. Furthermore, from the picture, the viewing port would only be able to look downward (given that we cannot see it in the picture)
My guess, a surface search radar. That would probably be the most useful for pirate hunting. Gives the drone the ability to scan for small craft on the water.
And, now that its been shown that Predators have this ability, what does this mean for drones in the future?
Maybe, they'll become hunter killer machines in other conflicts? Searching out targets, using the radar, then killing them with Hellfires?
on November 11, 2009 4:14 PM | Reply
It's a blivet used to carry the personal gear of the aircrew. :)
on November 11, 2009 6:45 PM | Reply
My guess would be a long range EO sensor akin to the DB-110 (the main sensor in the UK RAPTOR recce pod) that was trialled by the RAF at China Lake during FALCON PROWL back in 2003. See http://www.spyflight.co.uk/falcon%20prowl.htm for details.
on November 11, 2009 8:21 PM | Reply
It is the ground crew goofing around. (Hey lets really mess with that photographer/reporter)....
on November 12, 2009 4:04 AM | Reply
Yeah, it's just a cargo pod. See, the air intake feeds the refrigeration unit so the beer stays cold.
on November 12, 2009 12:59 PM | Reply
Greetings
It is not a fuel tank, if you view careful the shape has a line from above the intake on the nose to the mid line along length of the barrel, the top surface is metal and is the attachment point for sensors, while the lower what is made of a composite materail to allow the equipment a transparent radio/radar/etc. to the wave length used by the devices.
The RQ-9 has no fuel line plumbing to allow for tanks to be carried, this was dropped due to the extra cost, but the plans do have it, so the option remains to been included, however it is likly only to be introduced on new builds. As the needs for the planes to be in service exceed numbers in service.
All Operations outside of the US are live mission's with training elements been a part of it, to increase the number of flight ready crews. The only time no training is done, is on YELLOW flights, which have live weapons on, with hot targets allocated.
on November 12, 2009 2:59 PM | Reply
My bet would be on a radar, with a datalink pod on the other side (hidden, only an antenna shows).
on November 12, 2009 6:12 PM | Reply
The Pred B already carries an MTS-B EO/IR ball so that pod is most likely not an EO/IR payload. My mpney is on a surafce search radar.
on November 12, 2009 8:17 PM | Reply
I was hoping at first it was a gun pod, but doesn't look right.
on November 12, 2009 9:07 PM | Reply
Looks like a SHAred Recon Pod.
http://www.globalsecurity.org/intell/systems/sharp.htm
http://www.fas.org/irp/program/collect/sharp.htm
Check out the F-18 with oen here:
http://www.nrl.navy.mil/content.php?P=02REVIEW179
on November 13, 2009 12:05 AM | Reply
It's where the pilot lays prone. :)
on November 13, 2009 9:35 AM | Reply
Was thinking napalm until the email response indicated sensor.
So will go with Georgetown Stud for the side-scanning GMTI or maritime search ISAR?
on November 13, 2009 7:20 PM | Reply
Perhaps a sidecar?
on November 15, 2009 5:18 AM | Reply
SLAR ?
on November 16, 2009 1:19 PM | Reply
Its a cryptozoological monitoring pod, there have been a number of fishing vessels suffering damage to their hulls and propellers in that area along with sightings of unidentifiable sea creatures. The University of Florida has been commissioned by the governors office of the Seychelles to survey the area using millimetric wave sensing equipment to try and detect any unorthodox marine life, and, if necessary advise the local authorities on how to protect vessels against future 'attacks' Hope this helps
on November 17, 2009 3:41 AM | Reply
The Reaper's MTS-B is a Good Targeting Pod, but cannot be used for effective 'Long Range' EO/IR sensing. The MQ-9 has a Lynx SAR Radar (40nm), so an additional Radar for a Broader Area Search capability is more necessary for the Maritime Role. Data Links, and Elint/Sigint are necessary for the Maritime 'Surveillance' Role - although there is space internally for more payload applications that can fit inside the airframe. Also POWER (and cooling) requirements potentially need addressing as the single turboprop (whilst VERY efficient) - is unlikely to provide much extra power to driver large Generators, necessary for long range sensors.... Honeywell TPE33 Thrust Vs Reapers Coefficient of Lift / AUW.
on November 18, 2009 4:12 AM | Reply
It's an MPDP (Midget Paratroop Deployment Pod).
"Belay that nose-picking, Cadet! Deploy the midgets!"
on November 18, 2009 9:47 AM | Reply
That is a 3 barrel 30mm gattling cannon pod.
on November 18, 2009 4:15 PM | Reply
Actually it is a flux capacitor. This will enable the predator to travel through time AND space.