Predator

The official U.S. Air Force description of the MQ-1B Predator drone is, "The MQ-1B Predator is an armed, multi-mission, medium-altitude, long-endurance remotely piloted aircraft that is employed primarily as an intelligence-collection asset and secondarily against dynamic execution targets." "The MQ-1's capabilities make it uniquely qualified to conduct irregular warfare operations in support of combatant commander objectives." Although the Predator has performed well and it has changed the conduct of warfare, but the Predator has been retired and replaced with drones with increased capabilities.

The Predator became operational in March 2005 and the aircraft is remotely operated by a two-person crew. The pilot is a fully trained airplane pilot and the second crew member is an enlisted crew member who operates the sensors and weapons. The drone can carry two 114 Hellfire air to ground missiles, and it has a targeting system which contains infrared sensors, television cameras for daylight and night missions as well as an infrared targeting system. The Predator has worldwide operational capabilities providing the United States based crew with information and video connection by satellite linkage.

The Predator has been manufactured by General Atomic Aeronautical Systems. It can fly 460 miles to a target and then loiter over the target for 14 hours before returning to base. The Predator is being used to patrol the Mexican border and has been used to survey large forest fires. There has been a debate in the military over the use of rated officer pilots rather than trained enlisted pilots to fly remotely operated drones. The Air Force is looking for manufacturers who can produce a relatively cheap drone for use in battle conditions where some may be lost.

Jack Dragoni attended Boston College and served in the U.S. Army in Berlin and Vietnam. He lives in Chaffee, Missouri.