Originally Posted by
ORAC
What's puzzling is that the U.S. retired the MQ-1 seven years ago, so either it was operated by the CIA rather than the military, or old airframes are being pulled from storage to replace MQ-9 losses.
I got to work with Predator a bit, it's a good recon platform. I don't see why you wouldn't use it if you still have some in stock. You don't necessarily have to arm it with Hellfires, but you can.
If there are small Iran patrol boats (or those hydrofoil looking things) running about the Persian Gulf, a Predator loitering can let loose with a Hellfire and probably get a mission kill.
You don't need a 500 pound bomb for every target...