Belgium is also in negotiations to purchase a pair of MQ-9 Predator

Alongside its plans to acquire Lockheed Martin F-35 fighters, Belgium is also in negotiations to purchase a pair of medium-altitude, long-endurance unmanned air vehicles.
The country's defence ministry says the government has approved the start of negotiations with the USA over the requirement.
Although it does not specify which UAV it hopes to acquire, images released by Brussels show a General Atomics Aeronautical Systems MQ-9B Sky Guardian – a NATO-standard variant of the B-model Predator.
Belgium describes them as "reconnaissance" assets, suggesting that they will not carry weapons.
flightglobal

Final Two RQ-1 Predators Delivered to Italian Air Force

General Atomics announced that the Italian Air Force (ItAF) has accepted delivery of two RQ-1 Predator RPA systems, marking final deliveries of GA-ASI's Predator A product line, completing over two decades of delivering Predator A capabilities to the United States and other allied countries.
The Italian Air Force is a leader in the utilization of Predator and MQ-9 RPA to support a wide range of Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) missions in Italy, over the Mediterranean, and in support of NATO operations. Italy is the first country in Europe to have achieved an RPA airworthiness certification.
ga-asi.com

Russian jets 'intercept' US Predator drones over Syria

Russian fighter jets shadowed U.S. predator drones on at least three separate occasions high above Syria since the start of Russia’s air campaign last week.
Meanwhile, U.S. Navy Captain Jeff Davis told reporters a U.S. aircraft flying over Syria had to be rerouted to avoid a Russian fighter jet at least once.
“We have taken action to maintain safe separation,” Davis said, adding that the U.S. aircraft "changed path a little bit." He did not disclose which type of U.S. aircraft was involved.
The drone encounters took place over ISIS-controlled Syria, including its de facto headquarters in Raqqa, as well as along the Turkish-Syrian border near Korbani. Another occurred in the northwest, near the highly contested city of Aleppo.
“The first time it happened, we thought the Russians got lucky. Then it happened two more times,” said one official.
The U.S. military's MQ-1 Predator drone is not a stealth aircraft.
"It is easy to see a predator on radar," said one official.
The Russians have not attempted to shoot down any of the U.S. drones, but instead have flown "intercept tracks," a doctrinal term meaning the Russians flew close enough to make their presence felt, according to one official.
One other official said, “the Russians flew very close, but did not impede the drone flight.”
“The first time it happened, we thought the Russians got lucky. Then it happened two more times."
foxnews

USAF plans to end MQ-1 Predator operations in 2018

The remotely-piloted aircraft that ushered in the armed unmanned air vehicle revolution, the General Atomics Aeronautical Systems MQ-1, will be put out to pasture by 2018, after more than two decades of service, the US Air Force says.
The service has been planning to retire the MQ-1 ever since introducing the larger and more capable General Atomics MQ-9 Reaper in 2007, but the insatiable demand for intelligence surveillance and reconnaissance and target strikes in conflict zones around the world has kept the original Predator in service.
Now, the air force has set 2018 as the end date for the MQ-1 operations and says the aircraft will be moved to the boneyard, but the ground control stations and other items will be repurposed to support the MQ-9.
flightglobal

US Lawmakers Push White House to Sell MQ-1 Predator Drones to Jordan

Members of Congress are pushing the Obama administration to embrace a plan to lend older-model, surplus drones to Jordan for the fight against the Islamic State.
In a Republican-led letter to the White House, 23 House members said Monday that Jordan should be allowed to borrow U.S. Air Force-owned MQ-1 Predator drones.
The Air Force is currently replacing its MQ-1 fleet with the more advanced MQ-9 Reapers, which are more heavily armed. As a result, a portion of the fleet of older Predators is currently not in use, and those drones aren’t considered critical to U.S. missions.
Predators typically carry two Hellfire missiles. A congressional official said that under the plan, the U.S. would loan three or four Predators to Jordan. That would be enough drones to keep at least one aloft around the clock.
Jordan is an active member of the U.S.-led coalition against Islamic State, also known as ISIS, and has intensified its involvement after a Jordanian pilot captured by the extremist group was burned to death while locked in a cage.
In meetings with members of Congress, Jordan has requested clearance to purchase armed and unarmed drones from General Atomics.
The U.S. Air Force has a shortage of drone pilots, making it difficult for the U.S. to fly the surplus predators themselves. Jordanian pilots, trained to fly F-16 fighters, could be relatively easily retrained to fly the drones.
Jordanian fighter planes have mostly struck fixed targets in Syria, rather than moving vehicles or other so-called dynamic targets. Acquiring their own drones could expand the range of targets Jordanian forces could strike.
wsj

USA Clears Sale of Predator XP To India

US is understood to have given clearance for export of ‘Predator XP’ (UAV) to India.
Predator XP UAV could be possibly used for patrolling the Pakistan and China borders and reconnaissance of red terror areas.
The licence to export to India was cleared by the US administration in October 2014.
The deal is estimated for 10-vehicle Predator system, with ground stations and software.
financialexpress

Predator XP makes first flight

The Predator XP, an updated version of Predator UAV, has made its first flight.
The flight occurred June 27
Upgrades to the XP include triple-redundant avionics, an Automatic Takeoff and Landing System (ATLS), a Lynx multi-mode radar with Maritime Wide Area Surveillance (MWAS), high-definition electro-optical video, an improved Claw sensor control and image analysis software system, an Automatic Identification System (AIS) for maritime vessel monitoring and tracking, and a more efficient propulsion system.
c4isrnet

Predator to be retired by USAF in favour of Reaper

A symbol of America’s presence in Iraq and Afghanistan, would probably be a UAV stalking across the sky.
But with severe budget constraints, the US Air Force is looking to cut the number of UAV combat air patrols from 65 to 55. That number could drop further if sequestration funded levels are not raised in 2016, as is likely.
That doesn’t mean the service is abandoning its UAV program, but the future looks much more secure for the Reaper than the Predator.
The USAF need to double down efforts to develop unmanned aerial aircraft that can operate in contested environments. The Predators and the Reapers have been terrific, but they cannot operate well in a contested environment. In Afghanistan, no one was able to shoot them down or interfere with their operation.
The Air Force has purchased a total of 259 Predators, but crashes and retirements have left the service with a current fleet size of 154 platforms, which the service plans to retire between fiscal 2015 and 2017. Those plans are dependent on congressional decisions, but there has been no groundswell against divesting the MQ-1s, likely because they would be replaced with an all-Reaper fleet.
The MQ-9 Reapers offer better payload capabilities and range, particularly if they are equipped with a major re-winging program that extends the operational capability of the Reaper by about 10 hours. The standard Reaper is configured for 30 hours for the ISR model and roughly 23 hours if armed with Hellfire missiles. General Atomics, the developer of the MQ-1 and MQ-9, said the extended-range model would increase those times to 42 hours for ISR and 35 hours with the Hellfire.
In other words, the Predators are falling victim to their faster, stronger brothers. That leaves the Air Force to find a home for over 100 outdated, unwanted, but still functional surveillance drones.
defensenews

Italian Predator Bs start Afghan duty

The Italian air force has begun using its General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Predator B unmanned air system in Afghanistan.
Operating from Herat air base in support of the NATO-ISAF, the new type will replace the A-model Predators previously flown by the Italian air force in the country.
Italy’s unarmed Predator Bs will be used for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance tasks. The type was previously used by the air force during the NATO-led campaign to protect Libyan civilians in 2011.
Italy’s Predator B acquisition totals six air vehicles, plus related equipment.
flightglobal

Germany halts purchase of armed drones

A scandal over Euro Hawk drones has damaged their reputation in Germany.
Members of the next German government have agreed to postpone the country's purchase of armed drones indefinitely following controversy over their use and cost.
A draft version of the coalition agreement between the Conservatives and the Social Democrats seen by news site Spiegel states: "We categorically reject illegal killings by drones. Germany will support the use of unmanned weapons systems for the purposes of international disarmament and arms control."
The move is a blow to outgoing defence minister Thomas de Mazière who was slated for spending hundreds of millions of euros on Euro Hawk drones which were never allowed to fly over German airspace.
Germany was in talks with both the US manufacturer of Predator drones as well as their Israeli competitor, which produces Heron drones, to buy 16 in the next few years.
thelocal

US relocates drones airfield after Djibouti crashes

The Pentagon is shifting its drone operations from a US base in Djibouti to a more remote airfield after local officials voiced concern about possible collisions with commercial aircraft.
"There was a concern over what would happen if a MQ-1 (Predator drone) obstructed a runway, and that it would have a significant impact on commercial air operations," said an official.
After the attacks of September 11 2001, Camp Lemonnier -- located next to the Djibouti international airport -- took on crucial strategic importance for Washington as a site for stationing special operations forces and drones for assaults on Al-Qaeda militants in Yemen and Islamist Shabab forces in Somalia.
afp

Lawmakers want USN to reexamine UCLASS approach

The chairman and ranking members of the House Armed Services seapower and projection forces subcommittee, urge Mabus in the Sept. 17 letter to make sure the aircraft — the next step from the X-47B – are designed to be part of a carrier air wing, projecting power as part of the carrier group. Some on Capitol Hill and in the Navy fear that senior Pentagon officials are eager to turn UCLASS into a counter-terrorism tool, sort of a super Predator.
breakingdefense

GENERAL ATOMICS to Develop Predator B Variant to Meet NATO/European Airworthiness Standards

General Atomics announced that it is undertaking an Independent Research and Development (IRAD) effort to develop a variant of its Predator® B RPA that is fully compliant with the airworthiness requirements of the U.S. Air Force and anticipated NATO foreign customers, as well as offers enhanced capabilities for integration into domestic and international airspace.
It is envisioned that the system solution will be a multi-nation, certifiable, exportable configuration built upon the company’s Block 5 Predator B aircraft capabilities and Advanced Cockpit Ground Control Station (GCS) layout.
media.ga.com

Predator passes 20,000-hour mark in Afghanistan

An MQ-1 Predator assigned Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan, recently became the first Predator to pass 20,000 flying hours over Afghanistan, a feat equivalent to flying 15 hours every other day, for 2,667 days.

defencetalk

UAE to purchase General Atomics Predators

The United Arab Emirates has signed a $197 million deal to purchase the international version of the General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Predator unmanned air system.
The sale, although involving General Atomics aircraft, was technically inked with the International Golden Group (IGG), which had previously selected the Predator XP on behalf of the UAE armed forces.
flightglobal

UAE buys Predator drones

A defense official in the United Arab Emirates says the Gulf nation has signed $1.4 billion in military contracts that include purchases of U.S.-made drones.
The deal, worth nearly $200 million and confirmed by Fox News, suggests Gulf Arab states are looking to boost surveillance capabilities to match claims by rival Iran of growing drone technology.
The UAE says the Predator drones, built by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, will not be outfitted for weapons capabilities, but used for reconnaissance.


foxnews

US drone strike kills another al Qaeda commander in North Waziristan

The US killed another al Qaeda commander in a drone strike in Pakistan's Taliban-controlled tribal agency of North Waziristan today.

The remotely-piloted Predators or the more deadly Reapers fired several missiles at a compound in the village of Tapi near Miramshah in North Waziristan, according to Reuters. An al Qaeda commander known as Mohammad Ahmed al Mansoor and three of his family members were killed in the attack, the Express Tribune reported.

longwarjournal

Dempsey: ‘Measured Response’ to Iran’s firing on Predator

The nation’s top military officer kept a focus on Iran Monday even as he joined a post-election Far East swing with top defense and diplomatic officials to highlight the Obama administration’s intended strategic shift to the Pacific region.
Gen. Martin Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said the firing last week by Iranian warplanes on an unarmed U.S. Air Force Predator drone over the Persian Gulf was “clearly a hostile act” but the U.S. would take a “measured response” to the incident.


defensetech.org

USAF crew intentionally crash Predator in Afghanistan

A USAF Predator crew had to intentionally crash the drone into the mountain in Afghanistan after the UAV experienced engine failure.

The drone landed largely intact and was destroyed by a missile

read more

Francia decidirá en Febrero de 2011 si adquiere el Predator /France To Decide In February On MALE Drone

Francia decidirá el próximo mes de Febrero si adquiere de forma interina una aeronave no tripulada para vigilancia (MALE). El Predator parece ser la opción mas clara, ha anunciado el ministro de defensa francés.
defensenews
_____________________________
France will decide in February on an interim buy of a medium altitude long endurance (MALE) surveillance drone, with the U.S.-built Predator among the acquisition options, Defense Minister Alain Juppé said Dec. 15.
defensenews