Possible U.S. return to MQ-1 Predator operations after 2018 retirement

The post discusses indications that a U.S. “MQ-1” shot down by Iran may have been an MQ-1 Predator, raising the possibility the U.S. has restarted Predator flights years after official retirement (potentially contractor-operated) to offset MQ-9 losses. While it may instead be an MQ-1C Gray Eagle misidentified as an MQ-1, the potential reactivation/redeployment of retired MQ-1s would be a notable operational adaptation.