Editing General Atomics MQ-1 Predator (section)

===Iraq===
[[File:MQ-1B Predator unmanned aircraft.jpg|thumb|An MQ-1B Predator from the 361st Expeditionary Reconnaissance Squadron takes off 9 July 2008 from [[Ali Air Base|Ali Base]], Iraq.]]

An Iraqi [[MiG-25]] shot down a Predator performing reconnaissance over the [[no fly zone]] in Iraq on 23 December 2002. This was the first time in history a conventional aircraft and a drone had engaged each other in combat. Predators had been armed with [[AIM-92 Stinger]] air-to-air missiles, and were purportedly being used to "bait" Iraqi fighters, then run. However, the Predator's maximum speed is {{cvt|1,800|mph|km/h}} lower than the MiG-25's, and its service ceiling is nearly {{cvt|60,000|ft|m}} lower, making the "run" segment of any "bait and run" mission a difficult task. In this incident, the Predator did not run (or could not run fast enough), but instead fired one of its Stingers. The Stinger's heat-seeker became "distracted" by the MiG's missile and missed the MiG. The Predator was hit by the MiG's missile and destroyed.<ref name="cbs2" /><ref name="atwar1999" /> Another two Predators had been shot down earlier by Iraqi [[Surface-to-air missile|SAMs]].<ref name="institute" />

During the initial phases of the [[2003 invasion of Iraq|2003 U.S. invasion of Iraq]], a number of older Predators were stripped down and used as decoys to entice Iraqi air defenses to expose themselves by firing.<ref name="vector" /><ref name="cbs2" /> From July 2005 to June 2006, the [[15th Reconnaissance Squadron]] participated in more than 242 separate raids, engaged 132 troops in contact-force protection actions, fired 59 Hellfire missiles; surveyed 18,490 targets, escorted four convoys, and flew 2,073 sorties for more than 33,833 flying hours.<ref name="www20064" />

[[Iraqi insurgency (Iraq War)|Iraqi insurgents]] intercepted video feeds, which were not encrypted, using a $26 piece of Russian software named [[SkyGrabber]].<ref name="Insurgents Hack U.S. Drones – WSJ.com" /><ref name="Iraq rebels 'hack into US drones'" /> The encryption for the [[ROVER]] feeds was removed for performance reasons.<ref name="Iraqi insurgents hacked Predator drone feeds, U.S. official indicates" /> Work to secure the data feeds was to be completed by 2014.<ref name="Fixes on the way for nonsecure UAV links – Air Force News, news from Iraq" />

On 27 June 2014, the Pentagon confirmed that a number of armed Predators had been sent to Iraq along with U.S. Special Forces following advances by the [[Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant]]. The Predators were flying 30 to 40 missions a day in and around Baghdad with government permission, and intelligence was shared with Iraqi forces.<ref>[http://www.armyrecognition.com/june_2014_global_defense_security_news_uk/unmanned_aircraft_predator_armed_with_hellfire_missiles_used_in_iraq_to_protected_u.s._advisers_2806.html Unmanned aircraft Predator armed with Hellfire missiles used in Iraq to protected U.S. advisers] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140630200018/http://www.armyrecognition.com/june_2014_global_defense_security_news_uk/unmanned_aircraft_predator_armed_with_hellfire_missiles_used_in_iraq_to_protected_u.s._advisers_2806.html |date=30 June 2014 }} – Armyrecognition.com, 28 June 2014</ref> On 8 August 2014, an MQ-1 Predator fired a missile at a militant mortar position.<ref>[http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2014/aug/8/us-launches-second-round-airstrikes-against-isil-o/ U.S. launches second round of airstrikes against ISIL, officials say] – ''[[The Washington Times]]'', 8 August 2014</ref> From the beginning of [[Operation Inherent Resolve]] to January 2016, five USAF Predators were lost; four crashed from technical failures in Iraq, one in June 2015, two in October 2015, and one in January 2016.<ref>[http://airforcemag.com/DRArchive/Pages/2016/January%202016/January%2012%202016/Another-Predator-Bites-the-Dust.aspx Another Predator Bites the Dust] – Airforcemag.com, 12 January 2016</ref>