Milestone for MQ-1 Predator deployment

A significant milestone was reached more than two
years ahead of schedule with the beginning of the 24th MQ-1 Predator combat air
patrol in the Global War on Terror. This CAP doubles the 24/7/365 Predator
capability of last year two years ahead of the Department of Defense (DOD) goal
of 2010 for twenty-one Predator CAPs. Predators now supply more than 13,400
hours of full-motion video to ground forces every month while conducting armed
over-watch, force protection, and precision air-to-surface engagements with the
AGM-114 Hellfire missile. “The Predator teams have just been doing
unbelievable work down there (International Zone) and in Baghdad as
well,” said Army Gen. David Petraeus, commander of Multinational Force Iraq, recently.
“And, I think there’s some path-breaking work on going here.”

Sustaining one 24/7/365 CAP typically calls for four
aircraft, but for surge operations, the Air Force is now maintaining 24
continuous CAPs with the total fleet of 76 combat aircraft. Predator missions
are launched by crews at sites in U.S. Central Command’s area of responsibility
while flown by crews at various locations in the United
States. This concept of operations, called
remote split operations, allows greater effectiveness in supplying more full-motion
video directly to soldiers engaged in combat. This model of operations nearly
triples sustainable combat capability by maximizing the number of available
crews and aircraft engaged in combat operations in the Global War on Terror.

Prior to the innovation of remote split operations in
Operation Iraqi Freedom, the Air Force used a traditional unit-deployment model
developed in the 1990s. The traditional model of rotating units through the
theater limited the Air Force to committing approximately 30 percent of its
Predator forces to combat. Under this remote model, the Air Force commits 85
percent of its aircraft to combat operations. At the same time remote split
operations allow more aircraft in combat, flying the missions from the continental
United States reduces the
number of Americans deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan to conduct
these missions. This smaller forward presence reduces American exposure to
enemy actions and allows the Air Force to project power without projecting
vulnerability. The Air Force acceleration of Predator capability to combat was
made possible by increased production and delivery of Predator aircraft and
several personnel actions, including freezing Predator assignments and
reassigning pilots from other aircraft and duties to meet the growing demand
for full motion video. The Air National Guard has also accelerated its Predator
commitment in five states, operating six CAPs.

The Air Force plans to expand Predator training by
standing up a second Predator training squadron and establish a Predator
Weapons Instructor Course in early 2009. This action is necessary to lay the
foundation to further increase and enhance joint warfighting capability.