The Air Force says its MQ-1 Predator unmanned aerial vehicle fleet has amassed more than 250,000 flying hours. A Predator flying from UAV-central at Creech AFB, Nev. blew past the quarter-mil mark on June 22. The much-in-demand UAV began its operational career flying reconnaissance missions over the Balkans in the mid-1990s and graduated to a weapons-carrier for use in Afghanistan and Iraq. The Air Force says Predators are airborne in Southwest Asia 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
Three of four congressional committees with influence over defense policy have voted to change the official name of the Department of Defense to the Department of War—but final approval of the Pentagon rebrand is months away and not yet assured.