Aircraft & UAVs

Predator XP

Also known as
  • Predator XP RPA
  • Predator XP UAS
  • RQ-1 Predator XP

Predator XP is General Atomics Aeronautical Systems' export-focused Predator-family remotely piloted aircraft for persistent overland and maritime intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance missions. The unarmed variant was licensed for a wider export market than armed MQ-1 Predators, with the UAE becoming the first announced customer through an International Golden Group procurement path. GA-ASI still described the UAE Armed Forces as Predator XP operators in 2023, and open-source research ties Emirati Predator XP deployment to the Yemen war.

Predator XP, Medium-altitude long-endurance ISR remotely piloted aircraft, Aircraft & UAVs
Image source: Predator XP product page

Role in Conflicts

Profile / Specs

Profile

Origin
United States export RPA procured for the United Arab Emirates through International Golden Group
Type
Medium-altitude long-endurance ISR remotely piloted aircraft
Service note
Introduced for export customers in the early 2010s; UAE procurement announced in 2013 and UAE operation still noted by GA-ASI in 2023.
Designer
General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc.
Designed
Export version publicly promoted from 2011; full-scale model shown at IDEX 2013.
Produced
First flight on 2014-06-27; UAE deliveries were expected to begin in mid-2016, and current GA-ASI materials continue to list Predator XP as available.
Number built
The UAE was the first announced Predator XP customer; AIN reported one system of four aircraft planned for delivery, while GA-ASI did not publicly give a complete production total.

Specifications

Mission
Over-the-horizon long-endurance, medium-altitude ISR
Wingspan
55 ft (17 m)
Length
27 ft (8 m)
Powerplant
Heavily modified Rotax 914 Turbo
Maximum gross takeoff weight
2,550 lb (1,157 kg)
Fuel capacity
595 lb (270 kg)
Electrical power
4.8 kW redundant power
Payload capacity
325 lb internal (147 kg)
Maximum altitude
25,000 ft (7,620 m)
Maximum endurance
35 hr at 10,000 ft MSL
Maximum air speed
120 KTAS
Data links
C-band line-of-sight and Ku-band SATCOM over-the-horizon links
Sensors
EO/IR payloads, Lynx multi-mode radar, AIS, and Claw sensor-control software
Launch and recovery
Automatic takeoff and landing system derived from GA-ASI Gray Eagle ATLS experience
Export ISR Configuration

Predator XP keeps the Predator airframe family in an unarmed export configuration centered on persistent sensor coverage rather than strike carriage. GA-ASI describes the aircraft as licensed for customers in Middle Eastern, North African, South American, and Asian markets, with C-band line-of-sight control and Ku-band satellite links for beyond-line-of-sight operations. It sits on the Predator A branch rather than the larger MQ-9 Reaper / Predator B branch.

Sensor fit

EO/IR cameras can be integrated with GA-ASI's Lynx multi-mode radar for SAR, GMTI, and maritime wide-area search tasks.

Maritime tasks

GA-ASI lists AIS integration and radar modes for coastal surveillance, vessel identification, small-target detection, search and rescue, and interdiction missions.

Launch and recovery

The aircraft uses an automatic takeoff and landing system derived from the company's Gray Eagle ATLS experience.

Timeline

Predator XP Key Events

  1. GA-ASI and IGG announce UAE surveillance agreement

    General Atomics announced a memorandum of understanding with International Golden Group to offer Predator XP for UAE government surveillance requirements.

    Sources: GA-ASI and IGG Sign Agreement to Meet UAE Surveillance Needs

  2. First Predator XP procurement announced

    GA-ASI announced that the UAE Air Force and Air Defence had completed contract negotiations with IGG to procure Predator XP for UAE government surveillance needs.

    Sources: Procurement of First Predator XP System Announced

  3. Predator XP completes first flight

    GA-ASI said Predator XP completed its first flight at Castle Dome Flight Operations Facility in Yuma, Arizona, validating the export variant's airframe before customer deliveries.

    Sources: GA-ASI Successfully Executes First Flight of Predator XP

  4. UAE delivery schedule reported

    AIN reported that Predator XP deliveries to the UAE were expected to begin in mid-2016 and described the planned package as one system of four aircraft.

    Sources: General Atomics Plans Predator XP Deliveries to UAE

  5. Predator XP reported in Yemen drone-war context

    The World reported that Saudi and Emirati forces were using unarmed Predator XP drones in Yemen, and Bard's Drone Databook separately placed an Emirati-operated Predator XP at Jizan Airport in the Saudi-led intervention context.

    Sources: The World Yemen drone-war report, The Drone Databook

  6. GA-ASI notes current UAE Predator XP operation

    In a Dubai Airshow announcement about UAE MQ-9B integration work, GA-ASI stated that the UAE Armed Forces currently operated Predator XP.

    Sources: GA-ASI Partners with EDGE to Integrate Smart Weapons onto MQ-9B

UAE Procurement Path

General Atomics identified International Golden Group as the UAE-side partner for Predator XP surveillance requirements in 2011 and later announced that the UAE Air Force and Air Defence had completed contract negotiations with IGG for the first Predator XP system. AIN reported in 2015 that the U.S. Congress had approved the unarmed sale and that deliveries to the UAE were expected to begin in mid-2016. U.S. export notices later covered delivery and operation support for the UAE Predator XP system, while GA-ASI said in 2023 that the UAE Armed Forces currently operated Predator XP.

Media

Predator XP Images

Predator XP, Medium-altitude long-endurance ISR remotely piloted aircraft, Aircraft & UAVs - view 1
Source: Predator XP product page
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Sources

Predator XP product pagePublisher: General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. | Note: Supports current product description, ISR mission, specifications, production availability, and official image provenance. | Accessed: 2026-07-13GA-ASI Successfully Executes First Flight of Predator XPPublisher: General Atomics | Note: Supports Predator XP's first flight date, Yuma flight-test location, export-variant framing, and development milestone. | Accessed: 2026-07-13General Atomics Plans Predator XP Deliveries to UAEPublisher: Aviation International News | Note: Supports U.S. approval context, UAE delivery timing, first export-customer status, and the reported one-system/four-aircraft delivery plan. | Accessed: 2026-07-13General Atomics to Show New Predator Variant in GulfPublisher: Air & Space Forces Magazine | Note: Supports Predator XP's IDEX debut context, export-version identity, improved ISR capability, automatic takeoff and landing, efficient propulsion, and GA-ASI partnership with IGG for the UAE government. | Accessed: 2026-07-13The World Yemen drone-war reportPublisher: The World from PRX | Note: Directly supports conflictUsage:2014 Yemen Civil War by reporting Saudi and Emirati use of unarmed Predator XP drones in the Yemen war context. | Accessed: 2026-07-13The Drone DatabookPublisher: Center for the Study of the Drone at Bard College | Note: Directly supports conflictUsage:2014 Yemen Civil War by placing an Emirati-operated Predator XP at Jizan Airport in 2018 in the Saudi-led Yemen intervention deployment context. | Accessed: 2026-07-13Armed Drones in the Middle EastPublisher: Royal United Services Institute | Note: Supports UAE Predator XP delivery, unarmed configuration, and assessment of Predator XP as the UAE's likely sensitive ISR and target-cueing UAV. | Accessed: 2026-07-13Federal Register DDTC 19-048 Predator XP UAE OperationPublisher: Federal Register | Note: Supports U.S. export-license notification for defense articles, technical data, and defense services to the UAE for delivery and operation of the Predator XP unmanned aircraft system. | Accessed: 2026-07-13GA-ASI Partners with EDGE to Integrate Smart Weapons onto MQ-9BPublisher: General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. | Note: Supports GA-ASI's 2023 statement that the UAE Armed Forces currently operated Predator XP and were working toward MQ-9B acquisition. | Accessed: 2026-07-13Predator XP data sheetPublisher: General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. | Note: Supports Predator XP mission, dimensions, payload, altitude, endurance, speed, data-link, and feature specifications. | Accessed: 2026-07-13GA-ASI and IGG Sign Agreement to Meet UAE Surveillance NeedsPublisher: General Atomics | Note: Supports the 2011 GA-ASI and International Golden Group memorandum of understanding to offer Predator XP for UAE government surveillance needs. | Accessed: 2026-07-13Procurement of First Predator XP System AnnouncedPublisher: General Atomics | Note: Supports UAE procurement, IGG contract-negotiation role, and Predator XP system background. | Accessed: 2026-07-13GA-ASI to Exhibit Full-scale Model of Predator XP at IDEXPublisher: General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. | Note: Supports IDEX 2013 production and exhibition context, including continuing discussions with IGG and UAE support partners. | Accessed: 2026-07-13