RQ-1 A Predator is a long endurance, medium altitude unmanned aircraft system for surveillance and reconnaissance missions. Surveillance imagery from synthetic aperture radar, video cameras and a forward looking infrared ( FLIR) can be distributed in real time both to the front line soldier and the operational commander or worldwide in real time via satellite communications links.
The Predator system first flew in 1994 and entered production in August 1997. Predators are currently in service for the US Air Force and are operational with the USAF 11th and 15th Reconnaissance Squadrons.
Predator UAVs have been operational in Bosnia since 1995, where they have flown over 600 missions in support of NATO, UN and US operations. They have also been deployed as part of Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan and Operation Iraqi Freedom.