P-268, the Last USAF MQ-1 Predator, at General Atomics' Gray Butte Flight Operation Facility in Palmdale, California
The U.S. Air Force accepted MQ-1 Predator tail number 268, the last manufactured for the service, in a ceremony March 3 at General Atomics’ Gray Butte Aeronautical Systems’ Flight Ops Facility. Col. James Beissner, Air Combat Command’s Chief Irregular Warfare Division, accepted the aircraft on behalf of the Air Force in front of a crowd of more than 800.
“This event marks a milestone in Air Force history given the path this Aircraft took from conception to operational excellence,” said Col. Christopher Coombs, Aeronautical Systems Center’s Chief of Medium Altitude UAS Division. “The Predator is a great example of the Air Force’s response to an immediate Warfighter need.”
Since its first flight in July of 1994, the MQ-1 series has accumulated over 900,000 flight hours and maintained a fleet fully mission capable rate over 90 percent, making it one of the Warfighters most valuable assets, according to Colonel Coombs.
“The hand-off of the last MQ-1 Predator to our U.S. Air Force customer commemorates not only what has been accomplished, but what we are still looking forward to achieve,” said Frank W. Pace, president, Aircraft Systems Group, General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. “17 years, 268 aircraft, and 920,000 flight hours later, our signature Predator A UAS line will continue to change the way we fight wars for many more years to come.”
The MQ-1B Predator is a Medium-Altitude, Long-Endurance, Remotely Piloted Aircraft. Its primary missions are close Air Support, Air Interdiction, and ISR. It acts as a Joint Forces Air Component Commander-owned theater asset for Reconnaissance, Surveillance and target acquisition in support of the Joint Forces Commander.