Short Circuit Fells Predator

March 9, 2009

Audio of this article is brought to you by the Air & Space Forces Association, honoring and supporting our Airmen, Guardians, and their families. Find out more at afa.org

According to the Accident Investigation Board reviewing the Aug. 1, 2008, crash of an MQ-1 Predator unmanned aerial vehicle near Balad AB, Iraq, a short circuit caused electrical fluctuations to the UAV’s primary control module and other critical components, resulting in the crash of the UAV. The Air Combat Command AIB, which released its report March 5, noted that the loss of the Predator and the two Hellfire missiles it carried was valued at $4 million. The AIB could not determine specifically what component prompted the short circuit, citing as possible sources Alternator #1, the power cable that connects this alternator to the dual alternator regulator, or the dual alternator regulator itself. (ACC release)

Audio of this article is brought to you by the Air & Space Forces Association, honoring and supporting our Airmen, Guardians, and their families. Find out more at afa.org

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