Predator Missile



The  is an unlockable Killstreak reward in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2. Once unlocked, the player can remotely control one AGM (Air-to-Ground) Hellfire Missile that is deployed via UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle) and attempt to guide it towards enemy players. The missile will explode upon impact.

Modern Warfare 2
To use the Predator Missile, the player is required to select the killstreak from the inventory, from which the player brings out a laptop. Using this laptop, the player in control of an air-to-ground missile, shifting viewpoint to that of the camera on the head of the missile until the missile detonates. Enemy players will be outlined with a red square on the missile's camera. In multiplayer, however, enemies using the Cold-Blooded perk will not be outlined by a red square. The Predator Missile is shown on both teams' radars.

When using the predator missile in multiplayer, it automatically fires once selected, as opposed to the campaign mode.

Pressing the fire button while the missile is traveling to its target fires the secondary thrusters, making the missile accelerate faster. This is more noticable in campaign than in multiplayer. This is a crucial tactic when many targets are close together, as they may scatter if the missile doesn't hit in time.

Friendly
The player has to kill a nearby enemy to acquire a Russian missile-equipped Predator drone during the level "Wolverines!" to help maintain a defensive perimeter in order to protect "Raptor".

The Predator is also seen in "Contingency", where Roach uses air-to-ground missiles to terminate hostile guards in the submarine base

Enemy
During "Wolverines!", an enemy Predator will fire AGM missiles at you if you stay in the open for too long until the player eventually steals it. You cannot use Stingers to bring down the UAV (unlike in multiplayer) as doing so would leave you with no way to take out the BTRs.

Spec Ops
The Predator appears twice in Spec Ops, neither you nor the enemy can shoot down the predator drone.

Friendly

 * Sniper Fi

Enemy

 * Homeland Security

Multiplayer
The Predator Missile is the third default killstreak perk in multiplayer, along with the UAV and Care Package. A player can unlock a Predator Missile by achieving a killstreak of 5, or 4 with the Hardline perk.

Using the Predator

 * It is recommended that you hide while controlling the drone, as you are vulnerable to enemy fire while the laptop is open. A damage indicator will appear on the side of the screen if you are killed, though you can still control the missile.
 * Remember that the Predator Missile has a high amount of splash damage. You don't need to see your target to kill them.
 * If you press the button to use the missile but quickly decide you do not want to use it yet, pressing the button again before the camera switches to the missile cancels it, saving it for later.
 * Unlike Single player, which allows you to survey the area before firing, the missile is fired immediatly. This is probably to avoid people using the killstreak as a method to search for players.
 * On default controls, pulling the right trigger, pressing R1 or clicking the left mouse button will activate the missile's booster rockets, drastically increasing the speed of the missile but making it much more difficult to aim.
 * The wind can affect the direction that the missile moves. Using the booster rockets will make the effect much less severe.
 * A common strategy is to pair the Predator Missile with a 6 or 7 killstreak reward in order to call in two killstreak rewards in a short window of time.
 * An extremely effective way to use the Predator Missile is by using it to take out enemy killstreak rewards.
 * A great tactic to use on any round-based gametype (except Search and Destroy) is to save the missile until the start of the next round. Use the missile at the beginning of the round when all the enemies are still bunched together, and kick in the extra booster rockets to ensure maximum carnage. This is one of the easiest ways to complete the "Grim Reaper" challenge. (There's a 10 second waiting time after Search and Destroy match ends, so unless everyone runs in the same direction, it becomes far less effective.)
 * Before impact, you can briefly look around the battlefield, using the Predator as a personal UAV.
 * The Predator Missile brings up quite a lot of smoke and dust. You can use this to your advantage as cover or as a smoke screen if you have a thermal scope equipped.
 * All enemy killstreaks will have a red box around their fuselage or rotors.
 * It is possible to destroy your own killstreaks.
 * Getting a headshot with the Predator Missile is also possible.

Avoiding the Predator

 * Avoid teammates and head for cover. Most players direct their missiles to the largest group of outdoor players.
 * Enemy missiles are announced, but if you don't hear it, a red circle still shows up on your map; this is the missile's blast radius. In Hardcore it is advised you take cover from any missile, as friendly fire is on.
 * The missile can't pierce buildings, but its splash radius can come through doors and windows, so run into a building and avoid any openings when you see one coming.
 * Cold-Blooded will help you avoid the missile's "red box" targeting system, but it won't help if you're around other players who don't have it, or if the person guiding the missile sees your movement.
 * When you get killed by an enemy Predator, watch the killcam to see the green strobe which marks the controller's location. Use this to seek revenge if you respawn near them. You can also spot enemies (allies of the Predator controller) if you really pay attention.
 * If you are at a lower elevation than the Predator's explosion, you will survive.
 * When calling in a Predator, to guarantee a kill, simply wait for an enemy to call a Care Package in and aim for that when it lands - you are guaranteed at least a single kill but possibly more if the enemies teammates are clustered around in an attempt to steal the package. Also, enemies calling in a package are almost always exposed above-head.

Predator or Sentry Gun

 * The Predator missile can be remote controlled, targeting whatever or whoever the player aims at.
 * The Predator missile has splash damage ability to kill clustered enemies. Sentry Guns target one enemy at a time. However, a well placed Sentry Gun can obtain more kills than a Predator missile.
 * Sentry Guns can easily be disabled from behind.
 * Predator missiles can be used only once, Sentry Guns can be moved and placed wherever needed.
 * Predator missiles can shoot down all killstreaks except for Tac Nuke, EMP and the packages.
 * A player with Cold-Blooded will be undetected by the Sentry Gun. A player with Cold-Blooded can still be visible with the Predator Missile but they will not be highlighted.
 * Sentry Guns are destroyed after a set time period regardless of enemy activity.

Trivia

 * The Predator Missile was originally going to be called the Hellfire, which is the name of the missile the Predator fires.
 * It is possible to melee while you are taking out the laptop. While you are in control of the drone, you cannot melee.
 * The missile's model is the same as that of the Javelin missile.
 * MW2_Predator.jpg different version of the Predator Drone camera is seen at the beginning of the Modern Warfare 2 launch trailer. This has a black rectangle for aiming, and text at the top of the camera saying "#3 CAMERA:SHELLFIRE * * O D A * *".
 * Sometimes, even though rarely, the missile will not explode on the ground, but go right THROUGH the ground, thus being under the map. It will explode after a period of time, though. This is also easily done by guiding the missile outside the maps limits, for example in the river near Rust.
 * Occasionally the missile can hit the ground right next to someone and fail to kill them, not even causing damage.
 * It is possible to guide the missile inside a building, if you have the angle and timing right.

Multiplayer

 * 5_6.png you call in 50 predators, you will get the animated missile emblem.
 * If you are moving while you pull out the laptop, your angle and point of view on the missile will be severely skewed and it will be nearly impossible to score a kill.
 * It is possible to get a headshot with the Predator Missile.
 * Low-lying cloud cover may obstruct your view of the drone, depending on the map.
 * If a hostile predator missile is followed up by a friendly predator missile, or vice versa, you can see that both originate from the same spot in the sky, as if they both came from the same UAV drone.
 * It is possible to take out an AC-130 aircraft with a Predator missile, but you have to be lucky enough for your Predator missile to spawn almost directly above the AC-130.
 * If you're flying down a Predator Missile and a teammate calls in an EMP, your missile will disappear instantly.

Campaign

 * The missile does not have to score a direct hit to disable vehicles—it has a generous kill radius. It is possible to take out multiple vehicles with one missile if it impacts between them, such as both BTRs patrolling during "Wolverines!".
 * With luck and timing, you may see the enemy Stinger that disables your Predator.

In real life

 * Real-life Predator drones only carry two Hellfire missiles each. This contrasts with in-game Predator drones, which have infinite missiles in the Campaign and Special Ops modes, and only one in multiplayer.
 * The Predator used in Modern Warfare 2 is likely referring to the MQ-9 Reaper, which is a UAV drone suited for a hunter-killer role. Unlike its predecessor, the MQ-1 Predator, the Reaper has a much larger payload of up to 14 Hellfire missiles, with a larger focus on an unmanned ground strike role. The MQ-1 Predator plays more of a surveillance role in combat operations. Although the soldiers in-game refer to the drone as the Predator, it would likely be more accurate to refer to the UAV as the Reaper. The reason for this possible mistake, is that the basic shape of both vehicles are relatively the same. The Reaper was also once known as the "Predator B" before it was given its current name.
 * The Predator is often referred to as an "AGM missile". This is redundant; AGM stands for "air to ground missile"

thumb|300px|right|The Predator Missile in action