MQ-1 to end flights by July 1

The Air Force plans to stop flying the MQ-1 Predator by July 1 as it prepares to fully retire the remotely piloted aircraft by early 2018 after 21 years in service.

The service said Feb. 23 it will gradually stand up more-capable MQ-9 Reaper combat lines to replace the Predator squadrons through the end of the year. Reapers are faster and offer a 4,000-pound payload capacity compared to the Predator's 200-pound payload, with high-definition sensors, among other capabilities.

Air Combat Command will study the MQ-9's service life until fiscal year 2019 to determine that aircraft's retirement time line as well, Inside the Air Force previously reported. The service plans to add more Block 5 Reapers to the fleet until at least 2020 as overworked Block 1 aircraft are retrofitted with Block 5 avionics.