Editing General Atomics MQ-1 Predator (section)

===Squadrons and operational units===
During the initial ACTD phase, the [[United States Army]] led the evaluation program, but in April 1996, the [[United States Secretary of Defense|Secretary of Defense]] selected the U.S. Air Force as the operating service for the RQ-1A Predator system. The [[3d Special Operations Squadron]] at [[Cannon Air Force Base]], [[11th Reconnaissance Squadron|11th]], [[15th Reconnaissance Squadron|15th]], [[17th Reconnaissance Squadron|17th]], and [[18th Reconnaissance Squadron]]s, [[Creech Air Force Base#Indian Springs history|Creech Air Force Base]], Nevada, and the [[Air National Guard]]'s [[163d Reconnaissance Wing]]<ref name=rf163 /> at [[March Air Reserve Base]], California, currently operate the MQ-1.{{Citation needed|date=July 2011}}

In 2005, the U.S. Department of Defense recommended retiring [[Ellington Airport (Texas)|Ellington Field]]'s [[147th Reconnaissance Wing|147th Fighter Wing]]'s [[General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon|F-16 Fighting Falcon]] fighter jets (a total of 15 aircraft), which was approved by the [[Base Realignment and Closure]] committee. They will be replaced with 12 MQ-1 Predator UAVs, and the new unit should be fully equipped and outfitted by 2009.<ref name="Guard unit welcomes Predator, reconnaissance mission" /> The wing's combat support arm will remain intact. The 272d Engineering Installation Squadron, an Air National Guard unit currently located off-base, will move into Ellington Field in its place.

The 3d Special Operations Squadron is currently the largest Predator squadron in the [[United States Air Force]].<ref name="Factsheets : 3rd Special Operations Squadron" />

[[U.S. Customs and Border Protection]] was reported in 2013 to be operating 10 Predators and to have requested 14 more.<ref name="Time" /><ref name="LA Now – Southern California" />

On 21 June 2009, the United States Air Force announced that it was creating a new MQ-1 squadron at Whiteman Air Force Base that would become operational by February 2011.<ref name="Officials choose bases for MQ-1, MQ-9 ground control stations" /> In September 2011, the U.S. [[Air National Guard]] announced that despite current plans for budget cuts, they will continue to operate the Air Force's combat UAVs, including MQ-1B.<ref name="AirForceWorld_MQ-1B_Air_Guard" />

On 28 August 2013, a Predator belonging to the [[163d Reconnaissance Wing]] was flying at 18,000 to 20,000&nbsp;feet over the [[Rim Fire]] in California providing infrared video of lurking fires, after receiving emergency approvals. Rules limit the Predator behavior; it must be accompanied by a manned aircraft, and its camera must only be active above the fire.<ref name="rf163" /><ref name="verticalmag" />

In September 2013, the [[Air Force Special Operations Command]] tested the ability to rapidly deploy Predator aircraft. Two MQ-1s were loaded into a [[Boeing C-17 Globemaster III]] in a cradle system that also carried a control terminal, maintenance tent, and the crew. The test was to prove the UAVs could be deployed and set up at an expeditionary base within four hours of landing. In a recent undisclosed deployment, airmen set up a portable hangar in a tent and a wooden taxiway to operate MQ-1s for a six-week period.<ref name="militarytimes" />