First aerial battle involving an unmanned aerial vehicle

In December 2002, a RQ-1 Predator drone conducting a US Air Force surveillance mission in Iraqi airspace was engaged by an Iraqi MiG 25 fighter jet. Until recently, Predator drones had been used for reconnaissance and surveillance only, but on this occasion the Predator was armed. In the ensuing dogfight, the two planes fired air-to-air missiles at each other, but the UAV’s Stinger was diverted by the Iraqi jet’s own missile. The MiG eventually downed the American drone, marking the first time an unmanned aircraft had taken on a piloted plane in combat.