Now showing: Dec. 20 edition of AFTV News Published Dec. 20, 2004 SAN ANTONIO (AFPN) -- This edition of Air Force Television News is a special program examining the past, present and future of unmanned aerial vehicles in the Air Force. The first of two holiday specials offered by Air Force Electronic News, the program is produced by Staff Sgt. Michael Noel.In the first segment of the program, titled “The Unmanned Air Force: UAVs,” Sergeant Noel chronicles the history of UAVs from the use of hot air balloons during the Civil War to the pilotless aircraft used in Afghanistan and Iraq today. He shows how the technology for UAVs has evolved from makeshift to 21st century high-tech, and how UAVs are now used for missions from reconnaissance to weapons delivery.In the second segment, the focus is on the contributions made by UAVs in operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom. Sergeant Noel shows how the RQ/MQ-1 Predator evolved from an intelligence-gathering UAV to one that can fire missiles, and how the Global Hawk was pressed into duty while still undergoing experimental testing at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif.In the final segment, Sergeant Noel examines the roles these aircraft will play for decades to come. This segment also concentrates on the work of the UAV Battlelab at Edwards AFB and the part Airmen assigned there are playing in how the Air Force will use the technology gathered through the battlelab’s innovative approaches to warfare. The second holiday special is titled “Afghanistan: The Other War” and will focus on Airmen assigned to Afghanistan and surrounding countries. It will be produced and co-anchored by Tech. Sgts. Pachari Lutke and Joy Josephson. It will be released in January. Air Force Television News is a biweekly production of Air Force News Service. It is distributed on videotape to more than 3,000 military and civilian outlets worldwide, and is seen on some 600 cable TV outlets nationwide. It is also available on the Internet at www.af.mil, and can also be seen regularly on the Pentagon Channel. The program is also offered with closed captioning. Viewers can comment on the program by sending e-mail to aftvnews@afnews.af.mil.