The Italian Air Force (AMI) has flown its first mission over Libya with a General Atomics Aeronautical Systems MQ-9 Predator B unmanned air vehicle, according to an Italian Defence Ministry operational update.

The aircraft conducted an intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance mission before returning to the Amendola Air Base, near Foggia, Italy, after 12 hours.

The AMI Predator B is assigned to the 28 Squadron, which also flies MQ-1C Predator A+ air vehicles.

The AMI has achieved initial operational capability with the first two of six Predator Bs with two more scheduled to follow by the end of the year.

The remaining two are slated to arrive by mid 2012, according to Flightglobal.