The predator drone strikes from thousands of feet above the ground.

• A. Ground Level
• B. Hundreds of Feet Above Ground
• C. Thousands of Feet Above Ground
• D. Ten Miles Up

Answer: (C)

Operating from thousands of feet above the ground gives predator drones a useful balance of safety, persistence, and sensor effectiveness. That height keeps the aircraft out of reach of many ground defenses and allows it to stay on station longer while scanning a wide area with its cameras and radar. From this standoff, precision weapons can be deployed with greater confidence, reducing risk to nearby civilians and ground forces. If the drone were at ground level or only a few hundred feet up, it would be far more vulnerable to weapons and its sensors would have a narrower field of view, making accurate targeting harder. Going much higher—like ten miles up—can also reduce sensor resolution and control practicality for this platform. So, thousands of feet above ground is the typical operating altitude because it best supports safe, effective surveillance and strike capability.