Drone Warfare

military technology · robots · aviation

What drones are. Military drones are unmanned robots that fly through the air or move on the ground or water. They can be controlled by a pilot sitting far away, like playing a video game, or they can be programmed to make decisions on their own using artificial intelligence.

Why militaries use them. Drones help armies do their jobs while keeping their own soldiers safer. Because drones are machines, they can be sent into dangerous situations where a human pilot wouldn't be in risk of getting hurt.

Different types exist. Some drones fly in the sky, some zoom across the ocean's surface, some dive underwater, and some roll across land. There are also tiny drones called MAVs that soldiers can carry in their backpacks for quick missions.

Smart or controlled. Some drones need a person to control them from a distance, giving commands for every move. Other drones are smart enough to follow instructions on their own, using computer programs to navigate and complete their missions.

Used by many nations. As of 2019, at least 15 countries around the world have military drones, including the United States, China, Russia, India, Israel, and the United Kingdom.