Warfare has changed Van. Russia has dumb weapons. Ukraine has smart weapons.
What makes a weapon smart? precision what gives precision - that Drone overhead can link up with a standard artillery shell and deliver that shell on target<-----
Russian army is being wiped out.
In the past small Drones were used just to scout /watch. Now they have Sat connections and that tiny drone is doing mucho work!
back to that bad boy at FLIR!
Hahahah
Like I said,
the better part of 2 decades.
Here's the top drones.
Check date of first flight on each. It's in the specs.
1. Avenger (General Atomics)
An Avenger drone. Image: Wikimedia.org
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An Avenger drone. Image:
Wikimedia.org
Fast Facts: 460 mph (max speed), 402 mph (cruise speed), 18 hours of endurance
Cost: $12-$15 Million
Dimensions: 44′ x 66′
Range: 15,240 miles
First flight: 2009
The Avenger by General Atomics supports a ground control crew of two members.
The military drone is primarily used by the Air Force.
It is powered by a turbofan engine unlike previous models like the MQ-9 Reaper.
Updates on the Avenger enable it to support internal weapons storage and reduce trails of it being in the air.
After a successful first flight in 2009, the General Atomics Avenger was deployed to Afghanistan.
2. AAI RQ-7
RQ-7 drone. Image: Defense.gov
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RQ-7 drone. Image:
Defense.gov
Fast Facts: 130 mph (max speed), 81 mph (cruise speed), 6/9 hours endurance
Cost: $15.5 Million
Dimensions: 11’2″ x 14″
Range: 68 miles
First flight: 1991
The AAI RQ-7 Shadow is primarily for the U.S. Army offering reconnaissance and surveillance capabilities.
The UAV is launched from a trailer-mounted catapult and requires arresting gear on an aircraft to recover the device.
Army troops have sought an effective battlefield drone since the cancellation of the Alliant RQ-6 Outrider.
The impressive range of the smaller drone helps support Army operations though it is restricted in bad weather conditions.
3. Northrop Grumman X-47A
X-47a drone. Image: Wikimedia.org
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X-47a drone. Image:
Wikimedia.org
Fast Facts: 4,877 lb (max weight), 5,903 lb. (max takeoff weight), 40,000 feet (service ceiling)
Cost: N/A
Dimensions: 30′ x 28′
Range: 1,700 miles
First flight: 2003
Northrop Grumman X-47 serves as a demonstration UAV.
The Navy version is known as the X-47B while the original drone is called the X-47A Pegasus.
The U.S. Navy is among the last branches to get on board with incorporating military drones into operations.
Northrop Grumman X-47 is a demonstrater drone after a successful first launch in the early-2000s.
Military drones get produced in a number of sizes. There are different ways to launch and recover UAVs, including hand launches. Image: Defense.gov
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Military drones get produced in a number of sizes. There are different ways to launch and recover UAVs, including hand launches. Image:
Defense.gov
4. MQ-9 Reaper
MQ-9 Reaper drone. Image: Af.mil
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MQ-9 Reaper drone. Image:
Af.mil
Fast Facts: 300 mph (max speed), 194 mph (cruise speed), 14 hours endurance
Cost: $15.9 Million
Dimensions: 36′ x 65′
Range: 1,200 miles
First flight: 2001
General Atomics MQ-9 Reaper (also called Predator B) is one of the most popular military drones.
The United States Air Force primarily uses the MQ-9 Reaper though it is also used by the Navy, CIA, and NASA.
It is considered the first “hunter-killer UAV” with a design that promotes high altitude and long endurance missions.
The MQ-9 Reaper made headlines in 2008 when it was announced the Air National Guard in New York was beginning a transition from converting F-16 pilot fighters to Mq-9A operators.
There are plans to keep the MQ-9 Reaper in service until the 2030s due to its outstanding and dependable operation.
5. MQ-1 Predator
MQ-1 Predator drone. Image: Af.mil
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MQ-1 Predator drone. Image:
Af.mil
Fast Facts: 135 mph (max speed), 81 mph (cruise speed), 24 hours endurance
Cost: $4 Million
Dimensions: 27′ x 48’7″
Range: 777 miles
First flight: 1994
General Atomics has another offering with the MQ-1 Predator which is primarily used by the Air Force and CIA.
The MQ-1 Predator is one of the original military drones with an initial conception in the early 1990s.
The military set out to produce an aerial reconnaissance UAV with high powered cameras and other sensors.
A final design is so effective that the MQ-1 Predator has seen combat in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iraq, Serbia, Yemen, Syria, and Somalia.
The drone is considered a “Tier II” MALE UAS which means it provides medium-altitude, long-endurance capabilities.
It was retired in 2018 after years of service with the MQ-9 Reaper taking over several of its former operations.
Related Article: 9 Common Private Military Contractor Jobs (and 3 uncommon ones)
6. MQ-8 Fire Scout
MQ-8 Fire Scout drone. Image: Wikimedia.org
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MQ-8 Fire Scout drone. Image:
Wikimedia.org
Fast Facts: 115 knots (max speed), 110 knots (cruise speed), 8 hours of endurance
Cost: $14.6 Million
Dimensions: 24′ (length), wingspan unspecified
Range: 50 miles
First flight: 2000
The Northrop Grumman MQ-8 Fire Scout is for reconnaissance, aerial fire support, precision targeting support, and situational awareness.
The U.S. Navy embraced the design of the MQ-8 Fire Scout after initially not being blown away by early versions.
It features a four-blade main rotor different from the RQ-8A UAV.
The design reduces noise and improves lift capacity for reconnaissance work.
Several upgrades have improved the overall functionality of the Northrop Grumman MQ-8 Fire Scout.
7. RQ-4
RQ-4 drone. Image: Af.mil
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RQ-4 drone. Image:
Af.mil
Fast Facts: 391 mph (max speed), 357 mph (cruise speed), 32+ hours endurance
Cost: $223 Million
Dimensions: 47’7″ x 131′
Range: 14,154 miles
First flight: 1998
Northrop Grumman RQ-4 Global Hawk serves as a high altitude UAV for the Air Force.
It delivers systematic surveillance with high altitude radar and long-range infrared sensors.
The military drone is capable of surveying an impressive 40,000 square miles of terrain each day.
To put it in perspective that is the area of Iceland or South Korea.
8. RQ-11 Raven
RQ-11 Raven drone. Image: Wikimedia.org
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RQ-11 Raven drone. Image:
Wikimedia.org
Fast Facts: 18.64 mph (cruising speed), 60-90 minutes endurance, 4.2 lbs.
Cost: $173,000
Dimensions: 3′ x 4.5′
Range: 6.2 miles
First flight: 2001
The RQ-11 Raven is a short distance and slow-moving military drone yet it offers several advantages based on its sleek and unassuming design.
Several branches of the military use the RQ-11 Raven including the Air Force and Marine Corps.
It is launched by hand and powered with a pusher configuration electric motor.
The RQ-11 Raven can soar to altitudes 500 feet above the ground and over 15,000 feet above sea level.
The Raven UAV is a fitting company-level device with cruise speeds between 30-60 mph.
9. RQ-12 Wasp
Fast Facts: 40 mph (max speed), 0.95 lbs (weight)
Cost: $49,000
Dimensions: 1.25′ x 2.3′
Range: 3 miles
First flight: 2007
Another lightweight and simple drone is the RQ-12 Wasp.
The miniature UAV has the tiny dimensions of a little over one foot long by two feet wide.
The U.S. Air Force likes using the RQ-12 Wasp for beyond-line-of-sight situation awareness.
It offers two onboard cameras delivering real-time intelligence to the operator.
The debate over the ethics of using drones for battles continues. However, drones are becoming more precise with their targeting as the goal is to reduce civilian casualties that have reportedly been caught in drone strikes in the past. Image: DoDlive
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The debate over the ethics of using drones for warfare continues. However, drones are becoming more precise with their targeting as the goal is to reduce civilian casualties that have occured because of drone strikes in the past. Image:
DoDlive
10. RQ-20 Puma
RQ-20 Puma drone. Image: Wikimedia.org
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RQ-20 Puma drone. Image:
Wikimedia.org
Fast Facts: 52 mph (max speed, 23 mph (cruise speed), 2 hours endurance
Cost: $250,000
Dimensions: 4’7″ x 9’2″
Range: 9.3 miles
First flight: 2007
AeroVironment RQ-20 Puma is a small, compact UAV that is battery powered.
The military drone is hand-launched with a small range of a little under ten miles in distance.
The compact UAV is for surveillance and intelligence gathering thanks to its infrared and electro-optical camera.
Army, Marine, and Air Force operations all depend on the RQ-20 Puma for surveillance.
It is able to operate even in extreme weather conditions which adds value to the UAV.
11. RQ-21 Blackjack
RQ-21 Blackjack drone. Image: Wikimedia.org
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RQ-21 Blackjack drone. Image:
Wikimedia.org
Fast Facts: 100 mph (max speed), 63 mph (cruise speed), 16 hours endurance
Cost: $5.3 Million
Dimensions: 8′ x 16′
Range: 58 miles
First flight: 2012
Boeing Insitu RQ-21 Blackjack, also known as the Integrator, is for the U.S. Navy.
The small drone offers a twin-boom, single-engine monoplane for operation.
It is relatively new having taken its first flight in 2012.
The RQ-21 Blackjack got selected by the Marine Corps over other military drones at the time competing for the attention of the branch.
Its forward reconnaissance capabilities is instrumental to Marine operations.
12. RQ-170 Sentinel
Artist conception of an RQ-170 Sentinel drone. Image: Wikimedia.org
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Artist conception of an RQ-170 Sentinel drone. Image:
Wikimedia.org
Fast Facts: General Electric TF34 Turbofan with three-member ground crew
Cost: N/A
Dimensions: 14’9″ x 65’7″
Range: N/A
First flight: 2007
The Lockheed Martin RQ-170 Sentinel is for the Air Force and CIA.
Unfortunately, there are not many details regarding the design or specifications of the RQ-170 Sentinel.
The information remains confidential since the UAV is stealth aircraft fitted with aerial reconnaissance equipment.
Experts say the RQ-170 Sentinel is comparable to the RQ-3 DarkStar and Polecat versions.
The military drone does not carry weapons making it exclusively used for stealth operations.
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