Warplanes: May 30, 2001

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As the US Air Force continues to test the Predator recon drone with Hellfire air-to-ground anti-tank missiles, it is examining other possible missions for the unmanned aerial vehicle. The most interesting mission is Forward Air Control, where the drone orbits over a battlefield and identifies possible targets, then passes their location to strike aircraft arriving on the scene. The Air Force plans to test the drone with Stinger air-to-air missiles after the Hellfire tests are complete.--Stephen V Cole