In early June 2026, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) announced the loss of an MQ-1 Predator. The announcement raised some eyebrows, as the Predator was officially retired back in 2018.
As The War Zone subsequently reported, rumors emerged in 2019 about a possible transfer of up to 20 MQ-1 Predators to the U.S. Navy, rumors that have now been confirmed.
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The full picture looks like this. At the time of official retirement in 2018, the U.S. military had several dozen MQ-1 Predators remaining, of which approximately 50 were broken down for spare parts compatible with the newer MQ-9 Reaper.
A further 15 MQ-1 Predators were placed in storage at the famous Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, home to the world's largest aircraft boneyard. These aircraft are formally the property of the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force.
In 2019, 20 MQ-1 Predators were transferred to the Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division (NAWCWD), which falls under the Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR).
Following the transfer, these drones were redesignated NMQ-1B. The prefix "N" indicates that the aircraft were modified for a specific type of testing, with no possibility of conversion back to combat configuration.
What exactly was changed on the NMQ-1B has not been disclosed by U.S. Navy representatives. The War Zone's authors suggest the drones may have been modified to test various types of onboard equipment, or to simulate different radar or infrared signatures. The possibility that NMQ-1Bs were used to monitor tests of various guided munitions should also not be ruled out.
Based on the facts above, The War Zone's authors suggest that CENTCOM's early June 2026 loss announcement may actually have referred to an MQ-1C Grey Eagle belonging to the U.S. Army, a platform whose current status also remains unclear.
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