View source for Unmanned combat aerial vehicle

{{Short description|Unmanned aerial vehicle that is usually armed}}
{{Distinguish|Loitering munition}}
{{Use American English|date=February 2022}}
[[File:Reaper UAV Takes to the Skies of Southern Afghanistan MOD 45151418.jpg|thumb|upright=1.35|A British [[General Atomics MQ-9 Reaper|MQ-9A Reaper]] operating over Afghanistan in 2009]]

An '''unmanned combat aerial vehicle''' ('''UCAV'''), also known as a '''combat drone''', '''fighter drone''' or '''battlefield UAV''', is an [[unmanned aerial vehicle]] (UAV) that carries [[aircraft ordnance]] such as [[air-to-surface missile]]s, [[anti-tank guided missile]]s (ATGMs), and/or [[aerial bomb]]s on [[hardpoint]]s or within [[bomb bay|weapons bay]], allowing it to perform [[military tactic|tactical]] [[offensive (military)|attack]]s known as [[drone strike]]s.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Austin |first1=Reg |title=Unmanned aircraft systems : UAVs design, development and deployment |date=2010 |publisher=Wiley |location=Chichester |isbn=978-0-470-05819-0 |url=https://www.wiley.com/en-us/Unmanned+Aircraft+Systems%3A+UAVS+Design%2C+Development+and+Deployment-p-9780470058190 |language=en-us}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://thebulletin.org/drone-warfare-death-precision10766?platform=hootsuite|title=Drone warfare: The death of precision|date=2017-05-11|work=Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists|access-date=2017-07-22|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171011191041/http://thebulletin.org/drone-warfare-death-precision10766?platform=hootsuite|archive-date=2017-10-11|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Kennedy|first1=Caroline|last2=Rogers|first2=James I.|date=2015-02-17|title=Virtuous drones?|journal=The International Journal of Human Rights|volume=19|issue=2|pages=211–227|doi=10.1080/13642987.2014.991217|s2cid=219639786|issn=1364-2987}}</ref> UCAVs are used for [[intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition and reconnaissance]], attacking [[high-value target]]s and prolonged [[loiter (aeronautics)|loiter]]ing before needing to return to base, unlike [[loitering munition|kamikaze drones]], which are single-use drones made for physically [[ramming]] into a target and exploding on impact; or [[unmanned surveillance and reconnaissance aerial vehicle|surveillance drones]], which are unarmed drones used only for [[aerial reconnaissance]] and gathering intelligence.

Aircraft of this type have no onboard human pilot,<ref>{{cite web|last=Dowd|first=Alan|title=Drone wars: risks and warnings|url=http://go.galegroup.com/ps/retrieve.do?sgHitCountType=None&sort=DA-SORT&inPS=true&prodId=AONE&userGroupName=jcl_jcccu&tabID=T002&searchId=R3&resultListType=RESULT_LIST&contentSegment=&searchType=BasicSearchForm&currentPosition=12&contentSet=GALE%7CA335069990&&docId=GALE%7CA335069990&docType=GALE&role=|access-date=4 March 2014}}</ref> but are usually under real-time [[teleoperation|remote control]] by human operators, with varying levels of [[vehicular automation|automation]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.icas.org/ICAS_ARCHIVE/ICAS2008/PAPERS/281.PDF|title=The Simulation of the Human-Machine Partnership in UCAV Operation|publisher=College of Aeronautics, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an 710072, China|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170805043641/http://www.icas.org/ICAS_ARCHIVE/ICAS2008/PAPERS/281.PDF|archive-date=2017-08-05|url-status=live|access-date=7 February 2013}}</ref> As the operator runs the vehicle from a remote terminal via [[radio control]], equipment necessary to support an on-board human pilot is not needed, resulting in a lower weight and a smaller size than a manned aircraft for the same [[payload]]. Many countries have operational domestic UCAVs, and many more have imported fighter drones or are in the process of developing them.<ref>The number of countries that are manufacturing armed drones varies by source. See for example:

*{{cite journal| author=International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS)| author-link=International Institute for Strategic Studies| title=The Military Balance 2018| journal=The Military Balance| volume=118| publisher=Routledge| date=14 February 2018| language=en|page=21}}, listing the United States, Israel, China, Turkey, and Iran
*{{Cite web|url=https://www.newamerica.org/in-depth/world-of-drones/4-who-has-what-countries-developing-armed-drones/|title=Who Has What: Countries Developing Armed Drones|publisher=New America|series=International Security Program|author=Peter Bergen|author2=David Sterman|author3=Alyssa Sims|author4=Albert Ford|author5=Christopher Mellon|language=en|access-date=2018-11-14|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180417155848/https://www.newamerica.org/in-depth/world-of-drones/4-who-has-what-countries-developing-armed-drones/|archive-date=2018-04-17|url-status=live}}, listing the United States, Sweden, South Africa, France, Spain, Italy, Greece, Switzerland, the UK, Russia, Ukraine, Turkey, Georgia, Israel, Jordan, Iran, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, India, Pakistan, North Korea, South Korea, China, Taiwan and Australia</ref>

== History ==
{{Main|History of unmanned combat aerial vehicles|Drone warfare|Civilian casualties from U.S. drone strikes}} 

[[File:Teledyne Ryan Firebee 234.jpg|thumb|1972: [[Ryan Firebee]] with 2 Maverick missiles]]
One of the earliest explorations of the concept of the combat drone was by [[Lee de Forest]], an early inventor of radio devices, and [[Ulises Armand Sanabria|U. A. Sanabria]], a TV engineer. They presented their idea in an article in a 1940 publication of ''Popular Mechanics''.<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=19kDAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA805 "Robot Television Bomber"] ''Popular Mechanics'' June 1940</ref> The modern military drone was the brainchild of [[John Stuart Foster Jr.]], a nuclear physicist of [[Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory|Lawrence Livermore Laboratory]].<ref name=kaplan>{{cite web |url=http://www.technologyreview.com/featuredstory/515806/the-world-as-free-fire-zone/ |title=The World as Free-Fire Zone |work=[[MIT Technology Review]] |author=Fred Kaplan | author-link=Fred Kaplan (journalist) |date=June 7, 2013 |access-date=June 17, 2013}}</ref> In 1971, Foster was a [[model airplane]] hobbyist and had the idea this hobby could be applied to building weapons.<ref name=kaplan /> He drew up plans and by 1973 [[DARPA]] (Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency) built two prototypes called "Prairie" and "Calera". They were powered by a modified lawn-mower engine and could stay aloft for two hours while carrying a {{convert|28|lb|adj=on}} load.<ref name=kaplan />

In the 1973 [[Yom Kippur War]], [[Israel]] used unarmed U.S. [[Ryan Firebee]] target drones to spur [[Egypt]] into firing its entire arsenal of anti-aircraft missiles.<ref>{{Cite web |title=NOVA {{!}} Spies That Fly {{!}} Firebee 1241 (Israel) |url=https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/spiesfly/uavs_11.html |access-date=2024-05-16 |website=www.pbs.org}}</ref> This mission was accomplished with no injuries to Israeli pilots, who soon exploited the depleted Egyptian defences. In the late 1970s and 80s, Israel developed the [[IAI Scout|Scout]] and the [[AAI RQ-2 Pioneer|Pioneer]], which represented a shift toward the modern lighter, glider-type model of UAV. Israel pioneered the use of [[unmanned aerial vehicle]]s (UAVs) for real-time surveillance, electronic warfare, and decoys.<ref>{{cite web
 |url          = http://www.howstuffworks.com/reaper1.htm
 |title        = A Brief History of UAVs
 |date = 22 July 2008
 |access-date  = 2013-08-14
 |archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20130522111255/http://www.howstuffworks.com/reaper1.htm
 |archive-date = 2013-05-22
 |url-status     = live
}}</ref><ref>{{cite web
 |url          = http://www.strategypage.com/htmw/htairfo/articles/20090409.aspx
 |title        = Russia Buys A Bunch Of Israeli UAVs
 |access-date  = 2013-08-14
 |archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20131026110814/http://strategypage.com/htmw/htairfo/articles/20090409.aspx
 |archive-date = 2013-10-26
 |url-status     = live
}}</ref><ref>{{cite web
 |url          = http://www.globes.co.il/serveen/globes/docview.asp?did=1000691790
 |title        = Unmanned combat vehicles shaping future warfare
 |first        = Yuval
 |last         = Azoulai
 |date         = October 24, 2011
 |work         = [[Globes (newspaper)|Globes]]
 |access-date  = 2013-08-14
 |archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20131203060756/http://www.globes.co.il/serveen/globes/docview.asp?did=1000691790
 |archive-date = 2013-12-03
 |url-status     = live
}}</ref> The images and radar decoying provided by these UAVs helped Israel to completely neutralize the Syrian [[air defense]]s in [[Operation Mole Cricket 19]] at the start of the [[1982 Lebanon War]], resulting in no pilots downed.<ref name="WSJLevinson">{{cite news
 |url          = https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB126325146524725387
 |title        = Israeli Robots Remake Battlefield
 |first        = Charles
 |last         = Levinson
 |date         = January 12, 2010
 |work         = [[The Wall Street Journal]]
 |page         = A10
 |access-date   = January 13, 2010
 |archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20150503014732/http://www.wsj.com/articles/SB126325146524725387
 |archive-date = 2015-05-03
 |url-status     = live
}}</ref>

[[File:2024- Russian drones launched against Ukraine.svg |thumb |During the [[Russo-Ukrainian war (2022–present)|Russo-Ukrainian war]], use of Russian drones (unmanned aerial vehicles) increased about tenfold from early 2024 through summer 2025.<ref name=NYTimes_20250908>{{cite news |last1=Johnson |first1=Lizzie |last2=Korolchuk |first2=Serhii |last3=Galouchka |first3=Anastacia |last4=Khudov |first4=Kostiantyn |last5=Ram |first5=Ed |last6=Chen |first6=Yutao |last7=Ledur |first7=Júlia |last8=Sand |first8=Bishop |title=Russia bombs Ukraine almost every night. This is what it sounds like. |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/interactive/2025/ukraine-bombing-sounds-war-sirens-russia/ |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=8 September 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250909004516/https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/interactive/2025/ukraine-bombing-sounds-war-sirens-russia/ |archive-date=9 September 2025 |url-status=live}}</ref>]]
In the late 1980s, [[Iran]] deployed a drone armed with six [[RPG-7]] rounds in the [[Iran–Iraq War]].<ref>{{citation |first=Fariborz |last=Haghshenass |title=Iran's Asymmetric Naval Warfare |url=http://www.washingtoninstitute.org/uploads/Documents/pubs/PolicyFocus87.pdf |work=Policy Focus |issue=87 |publisher=The Washington Institute for Near East Policy |date=September 2008 |page=17 |access-date=2013-12-07 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131212120127/http://www.washingtoninstitute.org/uploads/Documents/pubs/PolicyFocus87.pdf |archive-date=2013-12-12 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Impressed by Israel's success, the US quickly acquired a number of UAVs, and its Hunter and Pioneer systems are direct derivatives of Israeli models. The first 'UAV war' was the first [[Persian Gulf War]]: according to a May 1991 Department of the Navy report: "At least one UAV was airborne at all times during Desert Storm." After the Persian Gulf War successfully demonstrated its utility, global militaries invested widely in the domestic development of combat UAVs.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.army-technology.com/features/featureuav-evolution-natural-selection-drone-revolution|title=UAV evolution – how natural selection directed the drone revolution|date=15 November 2012|access-date=2013-08-15|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130804040234/http://www.army-technology.com/features/featureuav-evolution-natural-selection-drone-revolution/|archive-date=2013-08-04|url-status=live}}{{unreliable source?|reason=domain on WP:BLACKLIST|date=August 2016}}</ref> The first "kill" by an American UAV was on October 7, 2001, in [[Kandahar]].<ref>{{cite news|last1=Michel|first1=Arthur Holland|title=How Rogue Techies Armed the Predator, Almost Stopped 9/11, and Accidentally Invented Remote War|url=https://www.wired.com/2015/12/how-rogue-techies-armed-the-predator-almost-stopped-911-and-accidentally-invented-remote-war/|access-date=17 December 2015|work=[[Wired (website)|Wired]]|date=17 December 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151218180212/http://www.wired.com/2015/12/how-rogue-techies-armed-the-predator-almost-stopped-911-and-accidentally-invented-remote-war/|archive-date=2015-12-18|url-status=live}}</ref>

Between 2004 to late 2012, the U.S. has increased its use of [[drone strikes in Pakistan|drone strikes against targets in Pakistan]] and elsewhere as part of the [[War on Terrorism|War on Terror]]. In January 2014, it was estimated that 2,400 people had died from U.S. drone strikes in five years.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/01/23/obama-drone-program-anniversary_n_4654825.html|title=The Toll Of 5 Years Of Drone Strikes|date=24 January 2014|work=The Huffington Post|access-date=5 October 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141007054358/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/01/23/obama-drone-program-anniversary_n_4654825.html|archive-date=2014-10-07|url-status=live}}</ref> In June 2015, the total death toll of U.S. drone strikes was estimated to exceed 6,000.<ref name=pilkington/>

In 2020, Turkey became the first country to use UCAVs in a large, coordinated attack on a conventional battlefield when it attacked forces in Syria. They were used to attack enemy positions, to provide cover for ground forces and to scout for artillery.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.eliamep.gr/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Policy-paper-57-Kamaras-final-3.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210506185449/https://www.eliamep.gr/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Policy-paper-57-Kamaras-final-3.pdf|url-status=live|title=Turkish drones, Greek challenges|archive-date=2021-05-06}}</ref> Drones were used extensively in the [[2020 Nagorno-Karabakh war]] between Azerbaijan and Armenia.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.csis.org/analysis/air-and-missile-war-nagorno-karabakh-lessons-future-strike-and-defense|title = The Air and Missile War in Nagorno-Karabakh: Lessons for the Future of Strike and Defense| date=8 December 2020 | last1=Shaikh | first1=Shaan | last2=Rumbaugh | first2=Wes }}</ref> Azerbaijan's use of cheaper Turkish [[Bayraktar TB2|TB2]] drones was seen as crucial to their victory against the Armenian forces.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/dec/29/uk-defence-secretary-hails-azerbaijans-use-of-drones-in-conflict|title = UK wants new drones in wake of Azerbaijan military success|website = [[TheGuardian.com]]|date = 29 December 2020}}</ref> 

Drones were also used extensively during the [[Russo-Ukrainian war (2022–present)|Russo-Ukrainian war]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/are-ukraines-cheap-slow-drones-successful-russian-targets-rcna19982|title=Why are Ukraine's cheap, slow drones so successful against Russian targets?|website=[[NBC News]]|date=14 March 2022 }}</ref> The 2022 conflict was widely described as the first full-scale war featuring the large-scale use of small and commercial-grade UAVs in military settings. Consumer [[quadcopters]] and [[First-person view (radio control)|first-person view]] (FPV) drones, modified with sensors and explosives, were being used for military missions. The affordability and availability of small UAVs have shifted modern warfare and given rise to new offensive and defensive strategies.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/blogs/ukrainealert/fpv-drones-in-ukraine-are-changing-modern-warfare/ |title=FPV drones in Ukraine are changing modern warfare |website=Atlantic Council |date=20 June 2024 |first1=Tomas |last1=Milasauskas |first2=Liudvikas |last2=Jaškūnas }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|doi=10.1080/00963402.2023.2178180 |title=The war in Ukraine shows the game-changing effect of drones depends on the game |journal=Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists |volume=79 |date=2023 |page=95-102 |first=Dominika |last=Kunertova |hdl=20.500.11850/606858 |hdl-access=free }}</ref> Usage of small combat drones offers a cost advantage,<ref>{{Cite web|url= https://www.afr.com/world/europe/homegrown-defence-company-helping-ukraine-take-out-russian-drones-20220515-p5alfh |title=Homegrown defence company helping Ukraine take out Russian drones |website=Australian Financial Review|date=15 May 2022 |first=Andrew |last=Tillett }}</ref> and their high performance, reliability, and commercial availability for repair parts also contributed to their popularity.<ref name="nyt_202303">{{Cite news |last1=Mozur |first1=Paul |last2=Krolik |first2=Aaron |last3=Bradsher |first3=Keith |date=2023-03-21 |title=As War in Ukraine Grinds On, China Helps Refill Russian Drone Supplies |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/03/21/business/russia-china-drones-ukraine-war.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230602144130/https://www.nytimes.com/2023/03/21/business/russia-china-drones-ukraine-war.html |archive-date=2023-06-02 |access-date=2023-03-23 |work=[[The New York Times]] |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref><ref name="fp_2302">{{cite web |last=Greenwood |first=Faine |date=16 February 2023 |title=The Drone War in Ukraine Is Cheap, Deadly, and Made in China |url=https://foreignpolicy.com/2023/02/16/ukraine-russia-war-drone-warfare-china/ |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20250113004905/https://foreignpolicy.com/2023/02/16/ukraine-russia-war-drone-warfare-china/ |archive-date=13 January 2025 |access-date=6 March 2023 |website=Foreign Policy}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Somerville |first1=Heather |last2=Forrest |first2=Brett |date=10 April 2024 |title=How American Drones Failed to Turn the Tide in Ukraine |url=https://www.wsj.com/world/how-american-drones-failed-to-turn-the-tide-in-ukraine-b0ebbac3 |url-access=subscription |website=[[The Wall Street Journal]] |access-date=24 July 2024 |archive-date=24 July 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240724030203/https://www.wsj.com/world/how-american-drones-failed-to-turn-the-tide-in-ukraine-b0ebbac3 |url-status=live }}</ref>

==By country==
===China===
[[File:UCAV 2025 V-J Parade CNS.png|thumb|right|UCAVs at [[2025 China Victory Day Parade]]]]
China manufactures and exports combat drones on a large scale, and the country is the source of most commercial UAV components.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2025/07/13/business/drones-us-military-manufacturing-lags.html |title=Drones Are Key to Winning Wars Now. The U.S. Makes Hardly Any|website=The New York Times |date=13 July 2025 |first=Farah |last=Stockman }}</ref> The [[People's Liberation Army]] military operates multiple types of unmanned combat aerial vehicles.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.intelligent-aerospace.com/unmanned/article/14199662/china-military-drones-uav-unmanned|title=Combat drones in China are coming to a conflict near you|website=www.intelligent-aerospace.com|date=19 March 2021 |access-date=7 June 2021|archive-date=7 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210607015056/https://www.intelligent-aerospace.com/unmanned/article/14199662/china-military-drones-uav-unmanned|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="ch">{{cite web|url=https://insideunmannedsystems.com/market-military-drones-will-surge/ |title=Market for Military Drones will Surge|date=27 October 2016|access-date=19 February 2018|archive-date=19 February 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180219152237/http://insideunmannedsystems.com/market-military-drones-will-surge/|url-status=live}}</ref> Since 2010, Chinese drone companies have begun to export large quantities of drones to the global military market. Of the 18 countries that are known to have received military drones between 2010 and 2019, the top 12 all purchased their drones from China.<ref name="ch" /><ref>{{cite web|url=https://chinapower.csis.org/china-drones-unmanned-technology/ |title=Is China at the Forefront of Drone Technology? |website=Center for Strategic and International Studies |date=29 May 2018 }}</ref> The shift accelerated in the 2020s due to China's advancement in drone technologies and manufacturing, compounded by market demand from the [[Russian invasion of Ukraine]] and the [[Gaza war|Israel-Gaza conflict]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3242630/drone-tech-gives-china-edge-middle-east-arms-sales-israel-gaza-war-brings-risks-analysts |title=Drone tech gives China an edge in Middle East arms sales, but Israel-Gaza war brings risks: analysts |website=South China Morning Post |date=25 November 2023 |author=Seong Hyeon Choi }}</ref><ref name="wsj_drone">{{cite web|url=https://www.wsj.com/politics/national-security/chinese-americanit-doesnt-matter-israel-wants-inexpensive-drones-339a1355?mod=mhp |title=Chinese, American—It Doesn't Matter. Israel Wants Inexpensive Drones. |website=The Wall Street Journal |date=9 November 2023 |first=Heather |last=Somerville }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.defenseone.com/technology/2024/04/uk-eyes-chinese-drone-parts-ukraine/396211/ |title=UK eyes Chinese drone parts for Ukraine |date=1 May 2024 |website=Defense One |first=Sam |last=Skove }}</ref> Chinese companies that manufactures military unmanned aerial vehicles include [[China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation]] (CASC) and [[Chengdu Aircraft Industry Group]], etc.<ref name="ch"/>

China is known to be developing various "[[loyal wingman]]" UCAVs, such as [[AVIC Dark Sword]],<ref name="afm_j20s">{{cite web |url=https://www.airforcemag.com/new-two-seat-chinese-j-20/ |title=China's New Two-Seat J-20: Trainer or Manned-Unmanned Teaming Platform? |website=Air Force Magazine |date=28 October 2021 |first=John |last=A. Tirpak |access-date=29 October 2021 |archive-date=29 October 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211029020320/https://www.airforcemag.com/new-two-seat-chinese-j-20/ |url-status=live }}</ref> which is a concept first revealed in 2006.<ref name="janes_image">{{Cite web |last1=Wong |first1=Kelvin |title=Image emerges of China's stealthy Dark Sword UCAV |url=http://www.janes.com/article/80697/image-emerges-of-china-s-stealthy-dark-sword-ucav |website=Jane's 360 |date=7 June 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612144117/http://www.janes.com/article/80697/image-emerges-of-china-s-stealthy-dark-sword-ucav |archive-date=12 June 2018}}</ref> Stealth UCAV, such as [[Hongdu GJ-11]] unmanned combat aerial vehicles, are designed to be controlled by the [[Chengdu J-20]] fighter, forming [[Manned-unmanned teaming|manned-unmanned aircraft teams]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3196513/drones-become-loyal-wingmen-chinas-advanced-j-20-stealth-fighter-jets-state-media-reports |title=Drones to become 'loyal wingmen' for China's advanced J-20 stealth fighter jets, state media reports |website=South China Morning Post |date=20 October 2022 |first=Minnie |last=Chan |access-date=6 November 2022 |archive-date=6 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221106185543/https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3196513/drones-become-loyal-wingmen-chinas-advanced-j-20-stealth-fighter-jets-state-media-reports |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.airdatanews.com/chinese-two-seat-j-20-fighter-jet-controlling-three-gj-11-stealth-drones/ |title=Chinese two-seat J-20 fighter jet controlling three GJ-11 stealth drones |website=Air Data News |date=12 October 2022 |first=Ricardo |last=Meier |access-date=6 November 2022 |archive-date=6 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221106160924/https://www.airdatanews.com/chinese-two-seat-j-20-fighter-jet-controlling-three-gj-11-stealth-drones/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Other stealth UCAVs include [[Feihong FH-97]] UCAV developed by [[China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation]] (CASC). It was designed to suppress air defenses with [[electronic countermeasure]]s, fly ahead of aircraft to provide early warning, act as an expandable decoy, as well as provide reconnaissance and damage evaluation.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Kirton |first=David |date=2021-09-29 |title=China unveils 'loyal wingman' armed drone concept |language=en |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/china-unveils-loyal-wingman-armed-drone-concept-2021-09-29/ |access-date=2023-02-08}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=FH-97 loyal wingman concept unveiled at Airshow China 2021 |url=https://www.airrecognition.com/index.php/news/defense-aviation-news/2021/september/7692-fh-97-loyal-wingman-concept-unveiled-at-airshow-china-2021.html |access-date=2023-02-08 |website=www.airrecognition.com}}</ref> [[Feihong FH-97A]], a loyal wingman drone designed to fly alongside the fighter aircraft.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Dubois |first=Gastón |date=2022-11-08 |title=Airshow China 2022: FH-97A, the Chinese Loyal Wingman Project |url=https://www.aviacionline.com/2022/11/airshow-china-2022-fh-97a-the-chinese-loyal-wingman-project/ |access-date=2023-02-08 |website=Aviacionline.com |language=es}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Airshow China 2022: CASC unveils FH-97A loyal wingman autonomous drone |url=https://airrecognition.com/index.php/news/defense-aviation-news/2022-news-aviation-aerospace/november/8819-airshow-china-2022-casc-unveils-fh-97a-loyal-wingman-autonomous-drone.html |access-date=2023-02-08 |website=airrecognition.com |archive-date=2023-02-08 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230208064232/https://airrecognition.com/index.php/news/defense-aviation-news/2022-news-aviation-aerospace/november/8819-airshow-china-2022-casc-unveils-fh-97a-loyal-wingman-autonomous-drone.html |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.flightglobal.com/military-uavs/hard-hitting-uavs-star-at-airshow-china-in-zhuhai/150896.article |title=Hard hitting UAVs star at Airshow China in Zhuhai |website=Flight Global |date=9 November 2022 |first=Greg |last=Waldron }}</ref>

In August and September 2025, China unveiled multiple different types of UCAV and loyal wingmen prototype under development, and the naval variant of the [[Hongdu GJ-11]] UCAV.<ref name="twz_250902">{{cite web|url=https://www.twz.com/air/top-usaf-general-in-pacific-not-deterred-by-drones-missiles-to-be-showcased-at-huge-chinese-parade |title=Top USAF General In Pacific “Not Deterred” By Drones, Missiles To Be Showcased At Huge Chinese Parade |website=The War Zone |date=2 September 2025 |first=Joseph |last=Trevithick }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.twz.com/air/glimpses-of-chinas-new-air-combat-drones-emerge-ahead-of-massive-military-parade |title=Glimpses Of China’s New Air Combat Drones Emerge Ahead Of Massive Military Parade |website=The War Zone |date=17 August 2025 |first=Joseph |last=Trevithick }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://theaviationist.com/2025/08/17/chinas-new-cca-breaks-cover/ |title=China’s New Collaborative Combat Aircraft Breaks Cover Ahead of September Parade |website=The Aviationist |date=17 August 2025 |first=Parth |last=Satam }}</ref> These Chinese UCAV designs have different wing configerations and engine options, with some large UCAVs aimed to perform air superiority mission independently or collaboratively with manned aircraft.<ref name="av_250903">{{cite web|url=https://theaviationist.com/2025/09/03/china-new-ucavs-parade/ |title=Parade reveals China’s latest UCAV designs, ranging from ISR and strike drones to large stealthy platforms hinting at future PLAAF roles |website=The Aviationist |date=3 September 2025 |first=Parth |last=Satam }}</ref><ref name="aw_250903">{{cite web|url=https://aviationweek.com/defense/aircraft-propulsion/china-unveils-new-ucav-cca-designs-victory-day-parade |title=China Unveils New UCAV, CCA Designs In Victory Day Parade |website=Aviation Week |date=3 September 2025 |first=Chuanren |last=Chen |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250904084026/https://aviationweek.com/defense/aircraft-propulsion/china-unveils-new-ucav-cca-designs-victory-day-parade |archive-date=4 September 2025 }}</ref><ref name="fg_250903">{{cite web|url=https://www.flightglobal.com/defence/chinas-military-parade-delivers-more-pageantry-than-airpower-innovation/164355.article |title=China unveils new support aircraft but no stealth bomber at World War II anniversary parade |website=Flight Global |date=3 September 2025 |first=Greg |last=Waldron }}</ref>

===Israel===
==== Elbit Hermes 450 ====
{{Main|Elbit Hermes 450}}
[[File:Zik Squadron (Hermes 450), (cropped).jpg|thumb|right|An [[Israeli Air Force|IAF]] [[Elbit Hermes 450|Hermes 450]] from [[200 Squadron (Israel)|200 Squadron]] ]]
The [[Israeli Air Force]], which operates a squadron of [[Hermes 450]]s out of [[Palmachim Airbase]] south of [[Tel Aviv]], has adapted the Hermes 450 for use as an assault UAV, reportedly equipping it with two [[AGM-114 Hellfire|Hellfire]] missiles or, according to various sources, two [[RAFAEL Armament Development Authority|Rafael]]-made missiles. According to Israeli,<ref>Dror Globerman, Amit Cohen, "[https://www.makorrishon.co.il/nrg/online/1/ART1/018/371.html Most of the Assassinations Were Made By Drones]", Makor Rishon, December 9th 2005</ref> [[State of Palestine|Palestinian]], Lebanese, and independent reports, the Israeli assault UAV has been used in the [[Gaza Strip]] and was used intensively in the [[2006 Israel-Lebanon conflict|Second Lebanon War]]. Israel has not denied this capability, but to date, its policy has been to not officially confirm it either.{{Citation needed|date=February 2013}}<!-- The whole paragraph -->

===Turkey===
====TAI Aksungur====
{{main|TAI Aksungur}}
TAI Aksungur is a built by [[Turkish Aerospace Industries|Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI)]] for the [[Turkish Armed Forces]].<ref name="j360">{{cite news |url=https://www.janes.com/article/87973/turkey-advances-anka-aksungur-male-uav-development |newspaper=[[Jane's Information Group|Jane's 360]] |title=Turkey advances Anka-Aksungur MALE UAV development |last=Wong |first=Kelvin |date=17 April 2019 |access-date=20 May 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190601132833/https://www.janes.com/article/87973/turkey-advances-anka-aksungur-male-uav-development |archive-date=1 June 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="ds1">{{cite news |url=https://www.dailysabah.com/defense/2019/05/05/turkish-aerospace-industries-working-on-supersonic-uav |newspaper=[[Daily Sabah]] |title=Turkish Aerospace Industries working on supersonic UAV |date=5 May 2019 |access-date=19 May 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190506020651/https://www.dailysabah.com/defense/2019/05/05/turkish-aerospace-industries-working-on-supersonic-uav |archive-date=6 May 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="dn1">{{cite news |url=http://www.defensenews.com/story.php?i=4458183 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120731084413/http://www.defensenews.com/story.php?i=4458183 |url-status=dead |archive-date=31 July 2012 |title=Getting Ready for Takeoff |work=defensenews.com |access-date=4 Jun 2010 |date=18 Jan 2010 }}</ref><ref name="tai">{{cite web |url=https://www.tai.com.tr/urun/aksungur |publisher=Türk Havacılık Uzay Sanayi |title=AKSUNGUR - Yüksek Faydalı Yük Kapasiteli İHA |language=tr |trans-title=AKSUNGUR - High Useful Load Capacity UAV |accessdate=20 May 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190511203327/https://www.tai.com.tr/urun/aksungur |archive-date=11 May 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref> Using existing technology from the [[TAI Anka]] series of drones, it is the manufacturer's largest drone,<ref name="FlightglobalDebut">{{cite news
|url=https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/idef-aksungur-uav-makes-show-debut-after-first-flig-457878/
|work=Flight Global
|title=Aksungur UAV makes show debut after first flight
|publisher=Reed Business Information Limited
|last=Turnbull
|first=Grant
|date=2 May 2019
|access-date=26 June 2019
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190627193525/https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/idef-aksungur-uav-makes-show-debut-after-first-flig-457878/
|archive-date=27 June 2019
|url-status=live
}}</ref> with payload capacity for mission-specific equipment. It is intended to be used for long-term surveillance, signals intelligence, maritime patrol missions, or as an UCAV. The first unit was delivered to the [[Turkish Naval Forces]] on 20 October 2021.

==== Bayraktar Kizilelma ====
{{main|Bayraktar Kızılelma}}
[[File:Bayraktar Kızılelma on the deck of TCG Anadolu (L-400) - 2.jpg|thumb|[[Bayraktar Kızılelma|Baykar Kızılelma]] is a jet-engine UCAV developed for the [[Turkish Air Force]] and [[Turkish Naval Forces|Turkish Navy]].<ref name="Baykar MIUS Official">{{cite web|url=https://baykartech.com/en/press/baykars-unmanned-fighter-aircraft-completes-first-flight/|title=Baykar's unmanned fighter aircraft completes first flight|website=baykartech.com|date=15 December 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LTfj4aSlFBU|title=Bayraktar Kızılelma, havacılık tarihinde ilkleri başardı|publisher=[[Habertürk TV]]|date=7 June 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.twz.com/turkeys-drone-carrier-amphibious-assault-ship-enters-service|title=Turkey's 'Drone Carrier' Amphibious Assault Ship Enters Service|author=Emma Helfrich|website=thedrive.com|date=11 April 2023}}</ref>]]

Bayraktar Kızılelma is a proposed jet-powered, single-engine, low-observable, supersonic, carrier-capable unmanned combat aircraft in development by [[Baykar]], famous for its [[Bayraktar TB2]]. On 12 March 2022, [[Selçuk Bayraktar]], CTO of Baykar announced that the first prototype of the Bayraktar Kızılelma has entered the production line.<ref>{{Cite tweet |user=Selcuk |number=1502606947295674369| title=Üretim hattına 3 buçuk yıl sonra daha büyük ve daha çevik bir balık girdi.}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Unmanned Fighter Jet Hits Production Line: Turkey's Baykar|url=https://www.defenseworld.net/news/31568/Unmanned_Fighter_Jet_Hits_Production_Line__Turkey___s_Baykar|access-date=2022-03-14|website=defenseworld.net|language=en}}{{Dead link|date=August 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

==== TAI Anka-3 ====
{{main|TAI Anka-3}}

TAI Anka 3 is the code-name for the new single engine UCAV being developed by TAI.<ref>{{Cite web |date=December 24, 2022 |title=İşte Anka-3 |url=https://www.yenisafak.com/gundem/iste-anka-3-3897555 |access-date=December 28, 2022}}</ref> It will have a [[flying wing]] form,<ref>{{Cite web |date=December 24, 2022 |title=TUSAŞ'ın İnsansız Savaş Uçağı ANKA-3'ten İlk Görüntüler |url=https://www.savunmasanayist.com/tarihe-gecilecek-anlar-hurjet-hangardan-cikis-yapti/ |access-date=December 28, 2022}}</ref> and will feature low-observable stealth technology. The role of the aircraft will be [[Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses|suppression of enemy air defenses (SEAD)]], [[Penetrator (aircraft)|penetration]] and bomber.<ref>{{Cite web |date=December 24, 2022 |title=TUSAŞ ANKA-3 MİUS'un ilk görselleri paylaşıldı! |url=https://www.defenceturk.net/tusas-anka-3-miusun-ilk-gorselleri-paylasildi |access-date=December 28, 2022}}</ref>

===United Kingdom===
==== BAE Systems Taranis ====
{{Main|BAE Systems Taranis}}

Taranis is a British demonstrator program for unmanned combat air vehicle (UCAV) technology. It is part of the UK's Strategic Unmanned Air Vehicle (Experimental) (SUAV[E]) program. BAE describes Taranis's role in this context as following: "This £124m, four 
-year programme is part of the UK Government's Strategic Unmanned Air Vehicle Experiment (SUAVE) and will result in a UCAV demonstrator with fully integrated autonomous systems and low observable features."

The Taranis demonstrator will have an MTOW (Maximum Takeoff Weight) of about 8000&nbsp;kilograms and be of comparable size to the [[BAE Hawk]] – making it one of the world's largest UAVs. It will be stealthy, fast, and able to deploy a range of munitions over a number of targets, as well as being capable of defending itself against manned and other unmanned enemy aircraft. The first steel was cut in September 2007 and ground testing started in early 2009. The first flight of the Taranis took place in August 2013 in Woomera, Australia.<ref>Farmer, Ben (6 February 2014) [https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/defence/10619378/Successful-test-flight-for-Taranis-stealth-drone.html Successful test flight for Taranis stealth drone] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180729153158/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/defence/10619378/Successful-test-flight-for-Taranis-stealth-drone.html |date=2018-07-29 }} Daily Telegraph, Page 12</ref> The demonstrator will have two internal weapons bays. With the inclusion of "full autonomy" the intention is thus for this platform to be able to "think for itself" for a large part of the mission.{{Citation needed|date=February 2013}}<!-- The whole paragraph -->

===United States===
{{main|Battlefield UAVs of the United States}}

==== J-UCAS ====
{{Main|Joint Unmanned Combat Air Systems}}

*[[Boeing X-45]] UCAV (TD)
*[[X-47 Pegasus|Northrop-Grumman X-47 Pegasus]]

'''Joint Unmanned Combat Air Systems''', or '''J-UCAS''', was the name for the joint [[United States Navy|U.S. Navy]]/[[United States Air Force|U.S. Air Force]] unmanned combat air vehicle procurement project. J-UCAS was managed by DARPA, the [[Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency]]. In the 2006 [[Quadrennial Defense Review]], the J-UCAS program was terminated.{{cn|date=January 2024}} The program would have used stealth technologies and allowed UCAVs to be armed with precision-guided weapons such as [[Joint Direct Attack Munition]] (JDAM) or precision miniature munitions, such as the [[Small-Diameter Bomb]], which are used to suppress enemy air defenses. Controllers could have used real-time data sources, including satellites, to plan for and respond to changes on and around the battlefield.
[[File:X-47B operating in the Atlantic Test Range (modified).jpg|thumb|A [[Northrop Grumman X-47B|X-47B]] UCAV technology demonstrator]]
The program was later revitalized into [[UCAS-D]], a [[United States Navy]] program designed to develop a carrier-based unmanned aircraft.<ref>[http://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/cv-ucavs-the-return-of-ucas-03557/ "Carrier UCAVs: The Return of UCAS"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110510015043/http://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/cv-ucavs-the-return-of-ucas-03557/ |date=2011-05-10 }}, Defense Industry Daily, 7 February 2010</ref>

==== N-UCAS ====
[[UCAS-D]] and [[Northrop Grumman X-47B]] are the U.S. Navy-only successors to the J-UCAS, which was canceled in 2006. Boeing is also working on the [[Boeing X-45#X-45N|X-45N]] in this sector.

In a New Year 2011 editorial titled "China's Naval Ambitions", ''[[The New York Times]]'' editorial board argued that "[t]he Pentagon must accelerate efforts to make American naval forces in Asia less vulnerable to [[Carrier killer|Chinese missile threats]] by giving them the means to project their deterrent power from further offshore. Cutting back purchases of the Navy's [[Zumwalt class destroyer|DDG-1000 destroyer]] (with its deficient missile defense system) was a first step. A bigger one would be to reduce the Navy's reliance on short-range manned strike aircraft like the [[Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet|F-18]] and the [[F-35C|F-35]], in favor of the carrier-launched N-UCAS ...."<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/02/opinion/02sun2.html?hp Editorial] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171020082356/http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/02/opinion/02sun2.html?hp |date=2017-10-20 }}, ''The New York Times'', January 1, 2011 (January 2, 2011 p. WK7 NY ed.). Retrieved 2011-01-02.</ref>

On 6 January 2011, the DOD announced that this would be one area of additional investment in the 2012 budget request.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.defense.gov/News/News-Stories/ID/62351/ |title=Gates Reveals Budget Efficiencies, Reinvestment Possibilities |publisher=Defense.gov |access-date=2013-09-22 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130820182239/http://www.defense.gov//releases/release.aspx?releaseid=16035 |archive-date=2013-08-20 }}</ref>

==== USAF Hunter-Killer ====
{{Main|USAF Hunter-Killer}}

*[[Scaled Composites Model 395]]
*[[Scaled Composites Model 396]]
*[[General Atomics]] [[MQ-9 Reaper]] (originally the [[MQ-1 Predator|Predator]] B)
*Aurora Flight Sciences/[[Israel Aircraft Industries]] Eagle/Heron 2
*Unnamed [[Lockheed Martin]] entry

The [[United States Air Force]] has shifted its UCAV program from medium-range [[military tactics|tactical]] [[strike aircraft]] to long-range [[strategic bomber]]s.{{cn|date=January 2024}} The technology of the Long Range Strike program is based on the [[Lockheed Martin Polecat]] demonstrator.

=== Multinational ===
* '''EADS Surveyor''': The EADS "Surveyor" is still in preliminary investigation phase. It will be a fixed-wing, jet-powered UAV and is being positioned as a replacement for the CL-289. [[EADS]] is currently working on a demonstrator, the "Carapas", modified from an Italian Mirach 100 drone. The production Surveyor would be a stealthy machine with a top speed of 850&nbsp;km/h (530&nbsp;mph), an endurance of up to three hours, and capable of carrying a sophisticated sensor payload, including SIGINT gear. It would also be able to carry external loads, such as air-dropped sensors or light munitions.{{citation needed|date=January 2021}}

===Non-state actors===
In the mid-2010s, the [[Islamic State]] terrorist group began attaching explosives to commercially available [[quadcopter]]s such as the Chinese-made [[Phantom (unmanned aerial vehicle series)|DJI Phantom]] to bomb military targets in [[Territory of the Islamic State|Iraq and Syria]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.defenseone.com/technology/2017/01/drones-isis/134542/|work=Defense One|title=The Drones of ISIS|date=12 January 2017|access-date=19 November 2023}}</ref> During the [[Battle of Mosul (2016–17)|2016–17 battle of Mosul]], the Islamic State reportedly used drones as surveillance and weapons delivery platforms, using improvised cradles to drop grenades and other explosives.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://defense-update.com/20161012_drone_attacks.html|title=Weaponized Mini-Drones Entering the Fight|last=Eshel |first=Tamir|date=12 October 2016|website=[[Defense Update]]|access-date=25 February 2017}}</ref> An Islamic State drone facility was notably targeted by [[Royal Air Force]] strike aircraft during the battle.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://defense-update.com/20170117_drones_attacked.html|title=RAF Strikes Daesh Drone Facility in Mosul |last=Eshel|first=Tamir |date=17 January 2017|website=[[Defense Update]] |access-date=25 February 2017 }}</ref>

Militant groups during the [[Syrian civil war]] have also reportedly used UAVs in attacks, one example being a swarm of drones armed with bombs attacking Russian bases in western Syria in early January 2018.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2018/01/11/swarm-of-armed-diy-drones-attacks-russian-military-base-in-syria.html|title=A swarm of armed drones attacked a Russian military base in Syria|first=David|last=Reid|date=January 11, 2018|website=CNBC}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/russia-says-it-swatted-down-drone-swarm-syria-isis/|title=How Russia Says It Swatted Down a Drone Swarm in Syria|website=Vice.com|date=12 January 2018 }}</ref>

Starting in the 2020s, [[Drug cartel#Mexico|Mexican drug cartels]] began dropping reportedly hundreds of drone-carried bombs targeting both security forces and enemy gangs during turf wars.<ref>{{cite news|work=CBS News|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/drug-cartels-more-bomb-dropping-drones-mexico-army/|date=23 August 2023|access-date=19 November 2023|title=Drug cartels are sharply increasing use of bomb-dropping drones, Mexican army says}}</ref>

==Safety and security==
===Counter-UAS===
{{See also|Counter unmanned air system}}
There has been widespread use of drones in the [[Russo-Ukrainian War]].<ref name="lessons-from-use-of-drones-in-the-ukraine-war">{{Cite web|url=https://www.defenceconnect.com.au/key-enablers/10094-lessons-from-use-of-drones-in-the-ukraine-war|title=Lessons from use of drones in the Ukraine war|website=www.defenceconnect.com.au| date=31 May 2022 | access-date=4 June 2022}}</ref> Ukrainian soldiers use GPS signals to guide a drone to find Russian artillery and to guide Ukrainian artillery. Jamming these drone GPS signals cause drones to operate less effectively,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Business/wireStory/deadly-secret-electronic-warfare-shapes-russia-ukraine-war-85156306|title=Deadly secret: Electronic warfare shapes Russia-Ukraine war|website=abcnews.go.com| date=4 June 2022| access-date=4 June 2022}}</ref> as the operators of drones have to rely on pre-programmed routes through areas of jamming until communications can be restored. Other systems supplied by the West rely on automation.<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://nationalinterest.org/blog/techland-when-great-power-competition-meets-digital-world/ukraine-embraces-%E2%80%98messy-middle%E2%80%99-win |title=Ukraine Embraces the 'Messy Middle' to Win the Drone War|website=nationalinterest.org| date=13 May 2022| access-date=4 June 2022}}</ref> Systems like the [[AeroVironment Switchblade]] can find targets autonomously, requiring human permission only to engage found targets.<ref name="lessons-from-use-of-drones-in-the-ukraine-war"/> In October 2022 a video appeared on the web showing two drones colliding and one being rendered unflyable as a result.<ref name=Newdick /> It was claimed that the filming drone was Ukrainian and the one destroyed was Russian.<ref name=Newdick /> If this is the case it would be the first recorded case of drone on drone combat.<ref name=Newdick>{{cite news |last=Newdick |first=Thomas |date=13 October 2022 |title=This Drone-Versus-Drone Kill In Ukraine Could Be An Air Combat First |url=https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/this-drone-versus-drone-kill-in-ukraine-could-be-an-air-combat-first |work=The Drive |access-date=15 October 2022}}&nbsp;</ref>

On 27 December 2022 North Korea sent five drones over its border with South Korea. One reaching Seoul, all five returned to the North, despite a five-hour chase involving fighter jets and attack helicopters with some 100 rounds being fired. A South Korean [[KAI KT-1 Woongbi]] crashed although both crew survived. The [[Joint Chiefs of Staff (South Korea)]] released a statement in which it said that while it can stop attack drones, its ability to stop smaller spy drones is "limited". A senior official, Kang Shin-chul, said: "Our military's lack of preparedness has caused a lot of concern to the people…actively employ detection devices to spot the enemy's drone from an early stage and aggressively deploy strike assets". The South Korean President [[Yoon Suk-yeol]] has indicated that South Korea will invest in stealthy drones that could penetrate North Korea, with the creation of a new military unit.<ref>{{cite news |url= https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-64100974 |title= North Korea drones: South's military apologises for pursuit failure |author= Kathryn Armstrong |work= BBC News |date=27 December 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url= https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-64100974 |title= North Korean drone reaches north of Seoul |author= Jean Mackenzie in Seoul & Robert Plummer in London |work= BBC News |date=26 December 2022}}</ref>

The South Korean Defence Ministry announced a new series of anti-drone measures, planning to spend some 560 billion won over the next five years. The money will go towards four new initiatives. One is an airborne laser that will be used to destroy larger drones, whilst a jammer would be used on smaller drones. A new counter drone unit, made up of two squadrons, would also be created. The laser is already in the test phase and is expected to become operational in 2027. The jamming system has been described as "soft kill".<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-12-28/south-korea-to-spend-millions-on-drone-defence/101813566 |title= South Korea to spend millions on drone defence following North Korea's airspace invasion |website= [[Australian Broadcasting Corporation]] |agency=Reuters |date=29 December 2022}}</ref>

== Ethics and laws ==
{{See also|Targeted killing}}

===Civilian casualties===
<!-- Note to editors: There is a main article about civilian casualties from US drone strikes – most new material should be added to that article rather than here -->

====Israel====
In March 2009, ''[[The Guardian]]'' reported allegations that Israeli UAVs armed with missiles killed 48 [[Palestinian people|Palestinian civilians]] in the [[Gaza Strip]], including two small children in a field and a group of women and girls in an otherwise empty street.<ref>''The Guardian'', 23 March 2009. [https://www.theguardian.com/world/2009/mar/23/gaza-war-crimes-drones "Cut to pieces: the Palestinian family drinking tea in their courtyard: Israeli unmanned aerial vehicles – the dreaded drones – caused at least 48 deaths in Gaza during the 23-day offensive."] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170110092825/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2009/mar/23/gaza-war-crimes-drones |date=2017-01-10 }} Retrieved on 3 August 2009.</ref> In June, [[Human Rights Watch]] investigated six UAV attacks that were reported to have resulted in civilian casualties and alleged that Israeli forces either failed to take all feasible precautions to verify that the targets were combatants or failed to distinguish between combatants and civilians.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hrw.org/en/reports/2009/06/30/precisely-wrong-0|title=Precisely Wrong – Human Rights Watch|date=30 June 2009|publisher=Hrw.org|access-date=8 January 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150128182036/http://www.hrw.org/en/reports/2009/06/30/precisely-wrong-0|archive-date=2015-01-28|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ynet.co.il/english/Ext/Comp/ArticleLayout/CdaArticlePrintPreview/1,2506,L-3739125,00.html|title=Report: IDF used RPV fire to target civilians |publisher=Ynet.co.il|access-date=8 January 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hrw.org/en/news/2008/12/30/israelgaza-civilians-must-not-be-targets|title=Israel/Gaza: Civilians must not be targets: Disregard for Civilians Underlies Current Escalation|date=30 December 2008|publisher=Human Rights Watch|access-date=3 August 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090727142223/http://www.hrw.org/en/news/2008/12/30/israelgaza-civilians-must-not-be-targets|archive-date=2009-07-27|url-status=live}}</ref>

==== United States ====
{{main|Disposition Matrix|Civilian casualties from U.S. drone strikes}}

[[Collateral damage]] of [[civilians]] still takes place with drone combat, although some (like [[John O. Brennan]]) have argued that it greatly reduces the likelihood.<ref name="Wilson Center">{{cite web |title= The Ethics and Efficacy of the President's Counterterrorism Strategy |author=John O. Brennan |date=30 April 2012 |url=https://www.wilsoncenter.org/event/the-efficacy-and-ethics-us-counterterrorism-strategy |publisher= Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars |access-date= 1 May 2012 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20121025015908/http://www.wilsoncenter.org/event/the-efficacy-and-ethics-us-counterterrorism-strategy |archive-date= 2012-10-25 |url-status= live}}</ref> Although drones enable advanced tactical surveillance and up-to-the-minute data, flaws can become apparent.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Owens |first1=Hudson L. |last2=Flannes |first2=M. |title=Drone Warfare: Blowback from the New American Way of War |journal=Middle East Policy |volume=18 |issue=3 |year=2011 |pages=122–132 |doi=10.1111/j.1475-4967.2011.00502.x}}</ref> The U.S. drone program in Pakistan has killed several dozen civilians accidentally.<ref name="latime2">{{cite news|title=U.S. drone attacks in Pakistan get mixed response|author=Alex Rodriguez|author2=David Zucchino|author3=David S. Cloud|date=May 2, 2010|page=2 |url=https://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-drones-civilians-20100502,0,5865041.story |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120419110036/http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-drones-civilians-20100502,0,5865041.story|archive-date=2012-04-19|url-status=live|newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]]}}</ref> An example is the operation in February 2010 near Khod, in [[Urozgan Province|Uruzgan Province]], [[Afghanistan]]. Over ten civilians in a three-vehicle convoy travelling from [[Daykundi Province]] were accidentally killed after a drone crew misidentified the civilians as hostile threats. A force of [[Bell OH-58 Kiowa]] helicopters, who were attempting to protect ground troops fighting several kilometers away, fired [[AGM-114 Hellfire]] missiles at the vehicles.<ref name="latime1">David S. Cloud (April 10, 2011) [https://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-afghanistan-drone-20110410,0,2818134,full.story Anatomy of an Afghan war tragedy] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120629123506/http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-afghanistan-drone-20110410,0,2818134,full.story |date=2012-06-29 }}, ''Los Angeles Times''</ref><ref name="wapo1">Karin Brulliard (May 30, 2010) [https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/05/29/AR2010052901390.html Drone operators blamed in airstrike that killed Afghan civilians in February] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171018121009/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/05/29/AR2010052901390.html |date=2017-10-18 }}, ''The Washington Post''</ref>

In 2009, the [[Brookings Institution]] reported that in the US-led [[Drone strikes in Pakistan|drone attacks in Pakistan]], ten civilians died for every militant killed.<ref>{{cite journal |title=Drones kill 10 civilians for one militant: US report |url=http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/news/world/13+drones+kill+10+civilians+for+one+militant-za-09 |journal=[[Dawn (newspaper)|Dawn]] |date=21 July 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-date=21 October 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101021221653/http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/news/world/13+drones+kill+10+civilians+for+one+militant-za-09}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.brookings.edu/opinions/2009/0714_targeted_killings_byman.aspx |title=Do Targeted Killings Work?|author=Daniel L. Byman|date=14 July 2009 |access-date=8 January 2015 |archive-url=http://arquivo.pt/wayback/20160521070958/http://www.brookings.edu/opinions/2009/0714_targeted_killings_byman.aspx |archive-date=21 May 2016|url-status=dead|work=The Brookings Institution}}</ref> A former ambassador of Pakistan said that American UAV attacks were turning Pakistani opinion against the United States.<ref>''Newsweek'', 8 July 2009. Anita Kirpalani, [http://www.newsweek.com/id/205725 "Drone On. Q&A: A former Pakistani diplomat says America's most useful weapon is hurting the cause in his country"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090814043005/http://www.newsweek.com/id/205725 |date=2009-08-14 }} Retrieved on 3 August 2009.</ref> The website PakistanBodyCount.Org reported 1,065 civilian deaths between 2004 and 2010.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.pakistanbodycount.org/ |title=Home |publisher=PakistanBodyCount.org |access-date=31 March 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-date=26 June 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170626104103/http://www.pakistanbodycount.org/}}</ref> According to a 2010 analysis by the [[New America Foundation]] 114 UAV-based missile strikes in northwest Pakistan from 2004 killed between 830 and 1,210 individuals, around 550 to 850 of whom were militants.<ref>{{cite web|author1=Peter Bergen |author2=Katherine Tiedemann |name-list-style=amp |publisher=New America Foundation |title=2004–2011 |url=http://counterterrorism.newamerica.net/drones |access-date=10 September 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110830213657/http://counterterrorism.newamerica.net/drones |archive-date=30 August 2011 |url-status=dead}}</ref> In October 2013, the Pakistani government revealed that since 2008 317 drone strikes had killed 2,160 Islamic militants and 67 civilians – far less than previous government and independent organization calculations.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2013/10/31/pakistan-done-deaths/3322539/|title=Pakistan says 3% of drone deaths civilians|author1=Sebastian Abbot|author2=Munir Ahmed|agency=Associated Press|name-list-style=amp |date=31 October 2013|publisher=Usatoday.com|access-date=8 January 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150915074518/http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2013/10/31/pakistan-done-deaths/3322539/|archive-date=2015-09-15|url-status=live}}</ref>

In July 2013, former Pentagon lawyer [[Jeh Johnson]] said, on a panel at the [[Aspen Institute]]'s Security Forum, that he felt an emotional reaction upon reading [[Nasser al-Awlaki]]'s account of how his 16-year-old grandson was killed by a U.S. drone.<ref>Michael Isikoff: [http://investigations.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/07/18/19546292-ex-pentagon-official-has-heavy-heart-over-us-teens-inadvertent-killing-by-drone Ex-Pentagon official has 'heavy heart' over US teen's inadvertent killing by drone] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131214185020/http://investigations.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/07/18/19546292-ex-pentagon-official-has-heavy-heart-over-us-teens-inadvertent-killing-by-drone |date=2013-12-14 }}</ref>

In December 2013, a U.S. drone strike in [[Rada' District|Radda]], capital of Yemen's [[Al Bayda' Governorate|Bayda province]], killed members of a wedding party.<ref>[https://www.cbsnews.com/news/official-us-drone-attack-in-yemen-kills-wedding-guests/ &#91;Yemeni&#93; Official: U.S. drone attack in Yemen kills wedding guests] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131215004324/http://www.cbsnews.com/news/official-us-drone-attack-in-yemen-kills-wedding-guests/ |date=2013-12-15 }} – AP, December 12, 2013</ref> The following February, [[Human Rights Watch]] published a 28-page report reviewing the strike and its legality, among other things. Titled "A Wedding That Became A Funeral", the report concludes that some (but not necessarily all) of the casualties were civilians, not the intended regional [[Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula|Al-Qaeda]] targets. The organization demanded US and Yemeni investigations into the attack. In its research, HRW "found no evidence that the individuals taking part in the wedding procession posed an imminent threat to life. In the absence of an armed conflict, killing them would be a violation of international human rights law."<ref>{{cite news|title=A Wedding That Became A Funeral: US Drone Attack on Marriage Procession in Yemen|url=https://www.hrw.org/reports/2014/02/19/wedding-became-funeral|access-date=20 July 2014|agency=Human Rights Watch|date=19 February 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140808132520/http://www.hrw.org/reports/2014/02/19/wedding-became-funeral|archive-date=2014-08-08|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Political effects ===
As a new weapon, drones are having unforeseen political effects. Some scholars have argued that the extensive use of drones will undermine the popular legitimacy of local governments, which are blamed for permitting the strikes.<ref name="Smith – 5 Sept 2012">{{cite news|url=http://www.salon.com/2012/09/05/drone_blowback_is_real/|title=Drone "blowback" is real A new analysis finds five ways drone strikes in Yemen are hurting American interests|last=Smith|first=Jordan Michael|date=5 September 2012|newspaper=Salon.com|access-date=8 September 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120908105744/http://www.salon.com/2012/09/05/drone_blowback_is_real/|archive-date=2012-09-08|url-status=live}}</ref>

On August 6, 2020, U.S. Senators [[Rand Paul]] (R-KY), [[Mike Lee]] (R-UT), [[Chris Murphy]] (D-CT), [[Chris Coons]] (D-DE), and [[Bernie Sanders]] (I-VT) introduced a bill to ban sales, transfers, and exports of large armed drones to countries outside of [[NATO]] amid concerns that civilians were killed with American-made weapons used by Saudi Arabia and the UAE during the [[Saudi Arabian-led intervention in Yemen]]. Congress had previously passed a similar measure with bipartisan support, but failed to overcome President Donald Trump's veto.<ref>{{Cite news|date=2020-08-06|title=U.S. senators want to block drone sales to Saudis|language=en|work=Reuters|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-saudi-arms-senate-idUSKCN2522JK|access-date=2021-11-12}}</ref>

===Psychological effects===
{{See also|PlayStation mentality}}
Controllers can also experience psychological stress from the combat they are involved in. A few may even experience [[posttraumatic stress disorder]] (PTSD).<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2012-mar-18-la-na-drone-stress-20120318-story.html |title=Stress of combat reaches drone crews |date=March 18, 2012 |author=David Zucchino |newspaper=Los Angeles Times |access-date=2020-09-06 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305215439/http://articles.latimes.com/2012/mar/18/nation/la-na-drone-stress-20120318/2 |archive-date=2016-03-05 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.npr.org/2011/12/19/143926857/report-high-levels-of-burnout-in-u-s-drone-pilots |title=Report: High Levels Of 'Burnout' In U.S. Drone Pilots |author=Rachel Martin |publisher=NPR |date=Dec 19, 2011 |access-date=2018-04-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180403153138/https://www.npr.org/2011/12/19/143926857/report-high-levels-of-burnout-in-u-s-drone-pilots |archive-date=2018-04-03 |url-status=live }}</ref> There are some reports of drone pilots struggling with post traumatic stress disorder after they have killed civilians, especially children. Unlike bomber pilots, moreover, drone operators linger long after the explosives strike and see its effects on human bodies in stark detail. The intense training that US drone operators undergo "works to dehumanise the 'enemy' people below whilst glorifying and celebrating the killing process."<ref name="Drone: Robot Imperium – Longreads">{{Cite web|url=http://longreads.tni.org/war-pacification/drone-robot-imperium/|title=Drone: Robot Imperium – Longreads|website=longreads.tni.org|access-date=2016-11-03|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171224023120/http://longreads.tni.org/war-pacification/drone-robot-imperium/|archive-date=2017-12-24|url-status=live}}</ref>

Professor Shannon E. French, the director of the Center for Ethics and Excellence at [[Case Western Reserve University]] and a former professor at the [[U.S. Naval Academy]], wonders if the PTSD may be rooted in a suspicion that something else was at stake. According to Professor French, the author of the 2003 book ''The Code of the Warrior'':<ref>{{cite news | title= Two enemies discover a 'higher call' in battle | first= John | last= Blake | date= March 9, 2013 | url= http://www.cnn.com/2013/03/09/living/higher-call-military-chivalry/ | publisher= CNN | access-date= 2013-03-09 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20130312041923/http://www.cnn.com/2013/03/09/living/higher-call-military-chivalry/ | archive-date= 2013-03-12 | url-status= live }}</ref>
<blockquote>If [I'm] in the field risking and taking a life, there's a sense that I'm putting [[skin in the game (phrase)|skin in the game]] ... I'm taking a risk so it feels more honorable. Someone who kills at a distance—it can make them doubt. Am I truly [[Honour|honorable]]?</blockquote>The [[Missile Technology Control Regime]] applies to UCAVs.

On 28 October 2009, [[United Nations Special Rapporteur]] on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions, [[Philip Alston]], presented a report to the Third Committee (social, humanitarian and cultural) of the [[United Nations General Assembly|General Assembly]] arguing that the use of unmanned combat air vehicles for [[targeted killing]]s should be regarded as a breach of [[international law]] unless the United States can demonstrate appropriate precautions and accountability mechanisms are in place.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=32764&Cr=alston&Cr1= |title=UN News Centre, "UN rights expert voices concern over use of unmanned drones by United States", 28 October 2009 |publisher=Un.org |date=2009-10-28 |access-date=2013-09-22 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130609064512/http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=32764&Cr=alston&Cr1= |archive-date=2013-06-09 |url-status=live }}</ref>

In June 2015, forty-five former US military personnel issued a joint appeal to pilots of aerial drones operating in Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria, Pakistan and elsewhere urging them to refuse to fly and indicated that their missions "profoundly violate domestic and international laws." They noted that these drone attacks also undermine principles of human rights.<ref name="pilkington">{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/jun/17/former-us-military-personnel-letter-us-drone-pilots?CMP=fb_gu |author=Ed Pilkington |title=Former US military personnel urge drone pilots to walk away from controls |website=[[TheGuardian.com]] |date=June 17, 2015 |access-date=June 18, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150618153431/http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/jun/17/former-us-military-personnel-letter-us-drone-pilots?CMP=fb_gu |archive-date=2015-06-18 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Some leaders worry about the effect drone warfare will have on soldiers' psychology. Keith Shurtleff, an army chaplain at Fort Jackson, South Carolina, worries "that as war becomes safer and easier, as soldiers are removed from the horrors of war and see the enemy not as humans but as blips on a screen, there is very real danger of losing the deterrent that such horrors provide".<ref>Cole, Jim and Chris Wright. "Drone Wars UK". January 2010. http://dronewarsuk.wordpress.com/aboutdrone/ {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120918102840/http://dronewarsuk.wordpress.com/aboutdrone/|date=2012-09-18}}</ref> Similar worries surfaced when "smart" bombs began to be used extensively in the [[Gulf War|First Gulf War]].

Stanford's ‘Living Under Drones’ researchers, meanwhile, have shown that civilians in Pakistan and Afghanistan are reluctant to help those hit by the first strikes because rescuers themselves have often been killed by follow-on drone strikes. Injured relatives in the rubble of the first strike have been known to tell their relatives not to help rescue them because of the frequency of these so-called ‘double-tap’ strikes. People also avoid gathering in groups in visible places. Many children are permanently kept indoors and often no longer attend school.<ref name="Drone: Robot Imperium – Longreads" />

Writer [[Mark Bowden]] has disputed this viewpoint, saying in his [[The Atlantic]] article, "But flying a drone, [the pilot] sees the carnage close-up, in real time—the blood and severed body parts, the arrival of emergency responders, the anguish of friends and family. Often, he’s been watching the people he kills for a long time before pulling the trigger. Drone pilots become familiar with their victims.<ref>Dave Philipps. (15 April 2022). "The unseen scars of those who kill via remote control." [https://www.nytimes.com/2022/04/15/us/drones-airstrikes-ptsd.html NY Times website] Retrieved 16 April 2022.</ref> They see them in the ordinary rhythms of their lives—with their wives and friends, with their children. War by remote control turns out to be intimate and disturbing. Pilots are sometimes shaken."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2013/09/the-killing-machines-how-to-think-about-drones/309434/|title=The Killing Machines – Mark Bowden|author=Mark Bowden|date=15 August 2013|publisher=The Atlantic|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130928033446/http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2013/09/the-killing-machines-how-to-think-about-drones/309434/|archive-date=2013-09-28|url-status=live|access-date=2013-09-22}}</ref>

This assessment is corroborated by a sensor operator's account: {{Blockquote|The smoke clears, and there are pieces of the two guys around the crater. And there’s this guy over here, and he’s missing his right leg above his knee. He’s holding it, and he’s rolling around, and the blood is squirting out of his leg … It took him a long time to die. I just watched him.|[[Airman First Class]] [[Brandon Bryant (whistleblower)]] in GQ<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.gq.com/news-politics/big-issues/201311/drone-uav-pilot-assassination|title=Confessions of a Drone Warrior|work=GQ|date=22 October 2013|access-date=5 October 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006081948/http://www.gq.com/news-politics/big-issues/201311/drone-uav-pilot-assassination|archive-date=2014-10-06|url-status=live}}</ref>}}

Back in the United States, a combination of "lower-class" status in the military, overwork, and psychological trauma may be taking a mental toll on drone pilots. These psychological, cultural and career issues appear to have led to a shortfall in USAF drone operators, which is seen as a "dead end job".<ref>[[Pratap Chatterjee|Chatterjee, Pratap]] (March 2015). [http://www.tomdispatch.com/post/175964/tomgram%3A_pratap_chatterjee%2C_is_drone_warfare_fraying_at_the_edges/ Is Drone Warfare Fraying at the Edges?] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150718055152/http://www.tomdispatch.com/post/175964/tomgram:_pratap_chatterjee,_is_drone_warfare_fraying_at_the_edges/|date=2015-07-18}}. "Are Pilots Deserting Washington's Remote-Control War? A New Form of War May Be Producing a New Form of Mental Disturbance."</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://gizmodo.com/nobody-wants-to-fly-air-force-drones-because-its-a-dea-1179733596|title=Nobody Wants to Fly Air Force Drones Because It's a Dead End Job.|date=21 August 2013 |publisher=Gizmodo.com|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130924140400/http://gizmodo.com/nobody-wants-to-fly-air-force-drones-because-its-a-dea-1179733596|archive-date=2013-09-24|url-status=live|access-date=2013-09-22}}</ref>

=== Stand-off attacks ===
The "unmanned" aspect of armed UAVs has raised moral concerns about their use in combat and law enforcement contexts. Attacking humans with remote-controlled machines is even more abstract than the use of other "stand-off" weaponry, such as missiles, artillery, and aerial bombardment, possibly depersonalizing the decision to attack. By contrast, UAVs and other stand-off systems reduce casualties among the attackers.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2012/aug/02/philosopher-moral-case-drones|title=The philosopher making the moral case for US drones|last=Carroll|first=Rory|date=2 August 2012|newspaper=The Guardian|access-date=4 February 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170218150332/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2012/aug/02/philosopher-moral-case-drones|archive-date=2017-02-18|url-status=live|issn=0261-3077}}</ref>

=== Wrongful targeting ===
There are only estimates of the magnitude of the errors in target selection. However, they do occur, and some of them become known.

One fatal "error" happened in December 2023, when the [[Nigerian Army|Nigerian army]] accidentally hit a village in [[Kaduna State|northwestern Nigeria]], killing 85 civilians celebrating a Muslim festival.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Dozens Killed In Nigeria As Military Drone Accidentally Strikes Village |url=https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/nigerian-army-says-dozens-killed-after-airstrike-accidentally-hits-village-4634278 |access-date=2023-12-05 |website=NDTV.com}}</ref> The army said they thought the people were rebels.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Nigeria: Viele Tote bei versehentlichem Angriff durch Militär |url=https://www.tagesschau.de/ausland/afrika/nigeria-zivilisten-bombardierung-100.html |access-date=2023-12-05 |website=tagesschau.de |language=de}}</ref>

=== Autonomous attacks ===
The picture is further complicated if the UAV can initiate an attack autonomously, without direct human involvement. Such UAVs could possibly react more quickly and without bias, but would lack human sensibility.<ref name="Foust2013" /> Heather Roff{{clarify|reason=context, why is this person's opinion relevant|date=February 2016}} replies that [[Lethal autonomous weapon|lethal autonomous robots]] (LARs) may not be appropriate for complex conflicts and targeted populations would likely react angrily against them.<ref name="Foust2013" /> [[Will McCants]] argues that the public would be more outraged by machine failures than [[human error]], making LARs politically implausible.<ref name="Foust2013">{{cite news|last1=Foust|first1=Joshua|title=Why America Wants Drones That Can Kill Without Humans|url=http://www.defenseone.com/technology/2013/10/ready-lethal-autonomous-robot-drones/71492/|access-date=15 July 2014|agency=Defense One|date=8 October 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140719221724/http://www.defenseone.com/technology/2013/10/ready-lethal-autonomous-robot-drones/71492/|archive-date=2014-07-19|url-status=live}}</ref> According to Mark Gubrud, claims that drones can be hacked are overblown and misleading and moreover, drones are ''more'' likely to be hacked if they're autonomous, because otherwise the human operator would take control: "Giving weapon systems autonomous capabilities is a good way to lose control of them, either due to a programming error, unanticipated circumstances, malfunction, or hack and then not be able to regain control short of blowing them up, hopefully before they've blown up too many other things and people."<ref name="Gubrud2013">{{cite web|last1=Gubrud|first1=Mark Avrum|title=New Faustian pro-Terminator meme infection spreading|url=http://gubrud.net/?p=66|website=Mark Gubrud's Weblog|access-date=15 July 2014|date=11 October 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140722154556/http://gubrud.net/?p=66|archive-date=2014-07-22|url-status=live}}</ref> Others have argued that the technological possibility of autonomy should not obscure the continuing moral responsibilities humans have at every stage.<ref name="Robillard2018">{{cite web|last1=Robillard|first1=Michael|title=The 'Killer Robots' are Us|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/29/opinion/killer-robots-weapons.html|website=The New York Times|access-date=11 February 2018|date=29 January 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180212004949/https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/29/opinion/killer-robots-weapons.html|archive-date=2018-02-12|url-status=live}}</ref> There is an ongoing debate as to whether the attribution of moral responsibility can be apportioned appropriately under existing international humanitarian law, which is based on four principles: military necessity, distinction between military and civilian objects, prohibition of unnecessary suffering, and proportionality.<ref name="Kanwar2011">{{cite web|last1=Kanwar|first1=Vik|title=Post-Human Humanitarian Law: The Law of War in the Age of Robotic Weapons|url=http://harvardnsj.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/Vol-2-Kanwar.pdf|website=Harvard National Security Journal|access-date=11 February 2018|date=2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170120161829/http://harvardnsj.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/Vol-2-Kanwar.pdf|archive-date=2017-01-20|url-status=live}}</ref>

== Public opinion ==
{{main|Public opinion about U.S. drone attacks}}
In 2013, a [[Fairleigh Dickinson University]] poll asked registered voters whether they "approve or disapprove of the U.S. military using drones to carry out attacks abroad on people and other targets deemed a threat to the U.S.?" The results showed that three in every four voters (75%) approved of the U.S. military using drones to carry out attacks, while (13%) disapproved.<ref>Fairleigh Dickinson University's PublicMind, (February 7, 2013). [http://www.publicmind.fdu.edu/2013/drone/ Public says it's illegal to target Americans abroad as some question CIA drone attacks] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130213124553/http://publicmind.fdu.edu/2013/drone/ |date=2013-02-13 }} (press release)</ref> A poll conducted by the Huffington Post in 2013 also showed a majority supporting targeted killings using drones, though by a smaller margin.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/02/15/drone-program-poll_n_2696352.html|title=Drone Program Poll: The Public Does Not Uncritically Embrace Targeted Killings|date=15 February 2013|work=The Huffington Post|access-date=5 October 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141007054403/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/02/15/drone-program-poll_n_2696352.html|archive-date=2014-10-07|url-status=live}}</ref> A 2015 poll showed Republicans and men are more likely to support U.S. drone strikes, while Democrats, independents, women, young people, and minorities are less supportive.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.people-press.org/2015/05/28/public-continues-to-back-u-s-drone-attacks/|title=Public Continues to Back U.S. Drone Attacks|date=28 May 2015|work=Pew Research Center|access-date=12 April 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160410154433/http://www.people-press.org/2015/05/28/public-continues-to-back-u-s-drone-attacks/|archive-date=2016-04-10|url-status=live}}</ref>

Outside America, there is widespread opposition to US drone killings. A July 2014 report found a majority or plurality of respondents in 39 of 44 countries surveyed opposed U.S. drone strikes in countries such as Pakistan, Yemen, and Somalia. The U.S., Kenya, and Israel were the only countries where at least half the population supported drone strikes. Venezuela was found to be the most anti-drone country, where 92% of respondents disagreed with U.S. drone strikes, followed closely by Jordan, where 90% disagreed; Israel was shown as the most pro-drone, with 65% in favor of U.S. drone strikes and 27% opposed.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pewresearch.org/2013/02/06/u-s-use-of-drones-under-new-scrutiny-has-been-widely-opposed-abroad/|title=U.S. Use of Drones, Under New Scrutiny, Has Been Widely Opposed Abroad|date=6 February 2013|work=Pew Research Center|access-date=5 October 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006114439/http://www.pewresearch.org/2013/02/06/u-s-use-of-drones-under-new-scrutiny-has-been-widely-opposed-abroad/|archive-date=2014-10-06|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pewglobal.org/2014/07/14/global-opposition-to-u-s-surveillance-and-drones-but-limited-harm-to-americas-image/|title=Global Opposition to U.S. Surveillance and Drones, but Limited Harm to America's Image|date=14 July 2014|work=Pew Research Center|access-date=12 April 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160422092935/http://www.pewglobal.org/2014/07/14/global-opposition-to-u-s-surveillance-and-drones-but-limited-harm-to-americas-image/|archive-date=2016-04-22|url-status=live}}</ref>

The drone strikes conducted by the Malian army have had devastating consequences on the civilian population in the Azawad region. In March 2024, attacks killed 13 civilians, including seven children, in Amasrakad, Gao region, sparking outrage and calls for justice from organizations like Amnesty International. These incidents highlighted the lack of transparency and accountability in drone use, exacerbating local and international tensions.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-03-27 |title=Civilians seeking shelter were killed by drone strike in town in Gao region |url=https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2024/03/civilians-seeking-shelter-were-killed-by-drone-strike-in-town-in-gao-region/ |access-date=2025-04-28 |website=Amnesty International |language=en}}</ref>’<ref>{{Cite web |last=Allen |first=Nate |title=Military Drone Proliferation Marks Destabilizing Shift in Africa’s Armed Conflicts |url=https://africacenter.org/spotlight/drone-proliferation-africa-destabilizing/ |access-date=2025-04-28 |website=Africa Center |language=en-US}}</ref>

== List of aircraft==
=== Operational ===
<!-- Please do not add any information which is related to unarmed UAV, loitering munition (suicide drone) or under developing UCAV here]] -->
Below are a list of some current dedicated armed UAV's:
[[File:Bayraktar Akıncı in Azerbaijani Air Force 1.jpg|thumb|A Turkish made Azerbaijani [[Baykar Bayraktar Akıncı]] over the runway]]
{| class="wikitable sortable"
!Country
!Manufacturer
!Aircraft
!Introduced
|-
|[[United States]]
|[[General Atomics Aeronautical Systems|General Atomics]] 
|[[General Atomics MQ-1 Predator|MQ-1 Predator]]
|1995
|-
|United States
|General Atomics
|[[General Atomics MQ-9 Reaper|MQ-9 Reaper]]
|2007
|-
|United States
|General Atomics 
|[[General Atomics MQ-1C Gray Eagle|MQ-1C Gray Eagle]]
|2009
|-
|[[China]]
|[[Chengdu Aircraft Industry Group|Chengdu Aerospace]]
|[[CAIG Wing Loong]] 
|2011
|-
|China
|Chengdu Aerospace
|[[CAIG Wing Loong-10]]
|2016
|-
|China
|Chengdu Aerospace
|[[CAIG Wing Loong II]]
|2017
|-
|[[China]]
|Chengdu Aerospace
|[[Chengdu Wing Loong-3|Wing Loong-III]]
|2022
|-
|China
|[[Harbin Aircraft Industry Group]]
|[[Harbin BZK-005]]
|2006
|-
|China
|[[Hongdu|Hongdu Aerospace]]
|[[Hongdu GJ-11]]
|2019
<!--|-
|[[Taiwan]]
|[[National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology|NCSIST]]
|[[NCSIST Teng Yun]]<ref>{{Cite web|title= Taiwan tests Teng Yun 2 next generation combat drone |url=https://www.airrecognition.com/index.php/news/defense-aviation-news/2022-news-aviation-aerospace/may/8397-taiwan-tests-teng-yun-2-next-generation-combat-drone.html|website=airrecognition.com|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Taiwan Flight Tests Upgraded Tengyun Armed Drone|url=https://www.thedefensepost.com/2022/05/18/taiwan-tests-tengyun-drone/|website=TheDefensePost.com|language=en}}</ref> 
|2015 Don't add back till introduction-->
|-
|China
|[[Sichuan Tengden]]
|[[Tengden TB-001]]
|2017
|-
|[[Turkey]]
|[[Turkish Aerospace Industries]]
|[[TAI Anka]]
|2010
|-
|Turkey
|[[Baykar|Baykar Defense]]
|[[Bayraktar TB2]]
|2014
|-
|Turkey
|Turkish Aerospace Industries
|[[TAI Aksungur]]
|2019
|-
|Turkey
|Baykar Defense
|[[Bayraktar Akıncı]]
|2021
|-
|[[Turkey]]
|[[Turkish Aerospace Industries]]
|[[TAI Anka-3]]
|2023
|-
|Turkey
|[[Baykar|Baykar Defense]]
|[[Bayraktar TB3]]
|2023
|-
|Turkey
|Baykar Defense
|[[Bayraktar Kızılelma]]
|2024
|-
|[[Pakistan]]
|[[National Engineering & Scientific Commission|NESCOM]]
|[[NESCOM Burraq]]
|2016
|-
|Pakistan
|[[Global Industrial Defence Solutions|GIDS]]
|[[GIDS Shahpar-2]]
|2021
|-
|[[India]]
||[[Defence Research and Development Organisation|DRDO]]
||[[DRDO Ghatak]]
|2023
|-
|[[Iran]]
|[[Qods Aviation Industry Company|Qods Aviation]]
|[[Qods Mohajer-6]]
|2017
|-
|Iran
|Qods Aviation Industry Company|Qods Aviation
|[[Qods Mohajer 10|Qods Mohajer-10]]
|2023
|-
|Iran
|[[Iran Aircraft Manufacturing Industries Corporation|HESA]]
|[[Shahed 129|HESA Shahed-129]]
|2012
|-
|Iran
|HESA
|[[Shahed 149 Gaza|HESA Shahed-149 Gaza]]
|2022
|-
|Iran
|HESA
|[[Shahed Saegheh|HESA Shahed 191 Saegheh]]
|2010
|-
|Iran
|[[Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force|IRIAF]]
|[[Kaman 22 (UAV)|Kaman 22]]
|2021
|-
|[[Russia]]
|Kronshtadt group
|[[Kronshtadt Orion]]
|2020
|-
|[[Russia]]
|[[Sukhoi]]
|[[Sukhoi S-70 Okhotnik-B|Sukhoi S-70]]
|2024
|-
|[[South Africa]]
|[[Milkor (Pty) Ltd|Milkor]]
|[[Milkor 380]]
|2023
|-
|[[Israel]]
|[[Elbit Systems]]
|[[Elbit Hermes 900|Hermes-900]]
|2010
|-
|[[Israel]]
|[[Elbit Systems]]
|[[Elbit Hermes 450|Hermes-450]]
|1998
|-
|[[Israel]]
|[[Israel Aerospace Industries|IAI]]
|[[IAI Eitan|Eitan]]
|2007
|}

Some reconnaissance drones that have armed capability include the [[CASC Rainbow#CH-92|CASC CH-92]], [[IAI Eitan]] and the [[Ababil-3]], [[HESA Ababil|Ababil-5]], [[Hamaseh]]. Some commercial drones, such as [[DJI Mavic]] and [[Phantom (unmanned aerial vehicle series)|Phantom]], have been modified to carry light explosives for combat missions in recent wars.

=== In development ===
<!-- Please do not add any information which is related to unarmed UAV or loitering munition (suicide drone) here]] -->
Below is a table of some technology demonstrators and projects in development:
[[File:Taranis Test Flight.jpg|thumb|right|The [[BAE Taranis]] model is one of the larger designs]]
{| class="wikitable sortable"
!Aircraft
!Country
!Notes
|-
|[[Boeing MQ-28 Ghost Bat]]
|[[Australia]]
|Made by [[Boeing Australia]]. Under flight testing/development.
|-
|[[AVIC Dark Sword]]
|[[China]]
|Technology demonstrator/testing
|-
|[[MD-22]]
|[[China]]
|[[Hypersonic]] UCAV, Under development
|-
|[[FL-71]]
|[[China]]
|[[Supersonic]] stealth UCAV, Under development
|-
|[[BAE Systems Corax]]
|[[United Kingdom]]
|Technology demonstrator
|-
|[[BAE Systems Taranis]]
|United Kingdom
|Technology demonstrator 
|-
|[[Boeing Phantom Ray]]
|[[United States]]
| Under development/testing
|-
|[[Dassault nEUROn]]
|[[France]]
| Experimental [[Stealth aircraft|stealth]] UCAV
|-
|[[DRDO Rustom#Archer-NG|DRDO Archer-NG]]
|[[India]]
|Under development
|-
|[[Eurodrone]]
|[[EU]]
|Under development
|-
|EMC Operations Anaconda
|[[United Kingdom]]
|Under development/testing
|-
|[[CATS Warrior|HAL CATS Warrior]]
|[[India]]
| Under development
|-
|[[Kratos XQ-58 Valkyrie]]
|[[United States]]
|Under development/testing
|-
|[[Northrop Grumman X-47A Pegasus|Northrop Grumman X-47A]]
|United States
|Technology demonstrator inc. [[Northrop Grumman X-47B|X-47B]] / [[Northrop Grumman X-47C|C]] variants
|-
|[[Baykar Bayraktar Kızılelma|Bayraktar Kızılelma]]
|[[Turkey]]
|Under development/testing
|-
|[[TAI Anka-3]]
|Turkey
|Under development/testing
|-
|[[Atobá XR]]
|[[Brazil]]
|Under development/testing
|-
|[[Sukhoi S-70 Okhotnik-B|S-70 Okhotnik-B]]
|[[Russia]]
|Under development/testing
|-
|[[IAIO Qaher-313]]
|[[Iran]]
|Under development/testing
|-
|Qods Mohajer-7
|Iran
|Under development
|-
|Qods Mohajer-9
|Iran
|Under development
|-
|[[Indonesian Aerospace Elang Hitam]]
|[[Indonesia]]
|Under development
|}
[[File:Autonomous Flying wing Tech.jpg|thumb|[[DRDO Ghatak]]]]

== Users ==
{{More citations needed section|date=November 2020}}
Countries with known operational armed drones:
<!-- Please do not add any unarmed UAV, loitering munition (suicide drone) or UCAV which is under development here]] -->
{{div col |colwidth=36em}}
*{{flag|Albania}} – [[Bayraktar TB2]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.aa.com.tr/en/turkiye/turkish-uav-tb2-enters-inventory-of-albanian-army/3154923|title=Turkish UAV TB2 enters inventory of Albanian army|website=www.aa.com.tr}}</ref>
*{{flag|Algeria}} – [[TAI Anka]],<ref name="chad-and-algeria-opts-for-turkish-anka-s-drones">{{Cite web|url=https://www.military.africa/2023/02/chad-and-algeria-opts-for-turkish-anka-s-drones/|title=Chad and Algeria opts for Turkish ANKA-S drones|date=February 28, 2023}}</ref> [[TAI Aksungur]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.menadefense.net/algerie/lalgerie-achete-des-drones-dattaque-aksungur/|title=L'Algérie achète des drones d'attaque Aksungur|date=October 7, 2022}}</ref>
*{{flag|Azerbaijan}} – [[Bayraktar TB2]]<ref>{{Cite journal|url=https://www.insightturkey.com/articles/the-role-of-turkish-drones-in-azerbaijans-increasing-military-effectiveness-an-assessment-of-the-second-nagorno-karabakh-war|title=The Role of Turkish Drones in Azerbaijan's Increasing Military Effectiveness: An Assessment of the Second Nagorno-Karabakh War|first=Hülya|last=Kınık|first2=Sinem|last2=Çelik|date=December 14, 2021|journal=Insight Turkey}}</ref>
*{{flag|Bangladesh}} – [[Bayraktar TB2]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.defenceturk.net/bayraktar-tb2-sihalar-bangladeste-goreve-basladi|title=Bayraktar TB2 SİHA'lar Bangladeş'te göreve başladı|first=Mehmet Ali|last=Kula|date=December 5, 2023}}</ref>
*{{Flag|Brazil}} – [[Elbit Hermes 450]], [[Elbit Hermes 900]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.spotter.com.br/esquadroes/horus_02.htm#:~:text=O+Primeiro+Esquadr%C3%A3o+do+D%C3%A9cimo,-Tripulados+(VANT)+na+For%C3%A7a/|title=Força Aérea Brasileira|website=www.spotter.com.br}}</ref>
*{{flag|Burkina Faso}} – [[Bayraktar TB2]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.military.africa/2023/12/burkina-faso-bayraktar-tb2-drones-are-taking-the-fight-to-the-enemy/|title=Burkina Faso Bayraktar TB2 drones are taking the fight to the enemy|date=December 1, 2023}}</ref>
*{{flag|China}} – [[Hongdu GJ-11|GJ-11]], [[CAIG Wing Loong|CAIG Wing Loong I]], [[CAIG Wing Loong|CAIG Loong II]], [[CAIG Wing Loong|CAIG Wing Loong III]], [[CASC Rainbow#CH-4|CH-4]], [[Tengden TB-001|TB-001]], [[Chengdu WZ-10|WZ-10]]
*{{flag|Chad}} – [[TAI Anka]]<ref name="chad-and-algeria-opts-for-turkish-anka-s-drones"/>
*{{flag|Djibouti}} – [[Bayraktar TB2]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.baykartech.com/en/press/turkeys-bayraktar-tb2-spotted-in-military-parade-in-djibouti/|title=Turkey's Bayraktar TB2 spotted in military parade in Djibouti|website=www.baykartech.com}}</ref>
*{{flag|Egypt}} – [[CAIG Wing Loong]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://foreignpolicy.com/2015/03/20/chinas-weapons-of-mass-consumption/|title=China's Weapons of Mass Consumption|date=20 March 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161010075241/http://foreignpolicy.com/2015/03/20/chinas-weapons-of-mass-consumption/|archive-date=2016-10-10|url-status=live|access-date=2016-10-04}}</ref> [[CASC Rainbow|CH-4 Rainbow]]<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.defensenews.com/story/defense/show-daily/dubai-air-show/2015/11/06/dubai-airshow-china-ucav-drone-market-fighter/74051236/|title=dubai-airshow-china-ucav-drone-market-fighter|work=[[Defense News]]|date=8 August 2017}}</ref>
*{{flag|Ethiopia}} – [[Bayraktar TB2]], [[CAIG Wing Loong]], [[Mohajer-6]]
*{{flag|France}} – [[General Atomics MQ-9 Reaper|MQ-9 Reaper]] 
*{{flag|India}} – [[IAI Heron]],<ref>{{Cite news |last=Mallapur |first=Chaitanya |date=2015-05-04 |title=India tops list of drone-importing nations |url=https://www.business-standard.com/article/specials/india-tops-list-of-drone-importing-nations-115050400136_1.html |work=Business Standard}}</ref> [[MQ-9B]]<ref name="India_leases_2">{{Cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/india-leases-top-notch-us-drones-for-surveillance-amidst-border-row-with-china/articleshow/79413719.cms|title= MQ-9 Reaper drone: India leases top-notch US drones for surveillance amid border row with China |website= [[The Times of India]]|date= 26 November 2020 }}</ref><ref name=":3">{{Cite web |date=2024-07-28 |title=US to provide consultancy to India to build advanced UAVs under USD 3 billion 31 Predator drone deal |url=https://www.aninews.in/news/world/asia/us-to-provide-consultancy-to-india-to-build-advanced-uavs-under-usd-3-billion-31-predator-drone-deal20240728200152/ |access-date=2024-07-29 |website=[[Asian News International|ANI]]}}</ref>
*{{flag|Indonesia}} – [[CASC Rainbow|CH-4 Rainbow]], [[TAI Anka]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.eurasiantimes.com/new-uavs-strom-asia-after-malaysia-indonesia-inks-deal/|title=Turkish UAVs 'Storm' Asia! After Malaysia, Indonesia Inks Deal To Buy Anka Drones From Turkey's TAI|first=Ashish|last=Dangwal|date=August 3, 2023}}</ref>
*{{flag|Iraq}} – [[CASC Rainbow|CH-4 Rainbow]], [[Mohajer-4]], [[Mohajer-6]], [[Ababil-3]]
*{{flag|Iran}} – [[Hamaseh]], [[Saegheh (UAV)|Saegheh]], [[Kaman-12 (UAV)|Kaman-12]], [[Kaman 22 (UAV)|Kaman 22]], [[IAIO Fotros]], [[Shahed 129]], [[Meraj (UAV)|Meraj]], [[HESA Ababil]], [[Mohajer-4]], [[Qods Mohajer#Mohajer-6|Mohajer-6]], [[Mohajer-10]], [[Shahed 149 Gaza]],  [[Shahed Saegheh]], [[Shahed 171 Simorgh]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://warisboring.com/like-it-or-not-iran-is-a-drone-power/|title=Like It or Not, Iran Is a Drone Power|date=5 September 2015|publisher=War is Boring}}</ref>
*{{flag|Israel}} – [[Elbit Hermes 450]], [[Elbit Hermes 900]] (armed variant), [[IAI Eitan]]
*{{flag|Italy}} – [[MQ-1 Predator]], [[MQ-9 Reaper]] 
*{{flag|Kazakhstan}} – [[TAI Anka]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.defensehere.com/en/the-kazakh-army-is-preparing-to-include-the-anka-s-purchased-from-tusas-in-its-fleet|title=The Kazakh army is preparing to include the ANKA-S, purchased from TUSAS, in its fleet|date=December 27, 2023|website=Defense Here}}</ref>
*{{flag|Kosovo}} – [[Bayraktar TB2]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.aa.com.tr/en/europe/kosovo-receives-new-turkish-bayraktar-tb2-drones/2947178|title=Kosovo receives new Turkish Bayraktar TB2 drones|website=www.aa.com.tr}}</ref>
*{{flag|Kyrgyzstan}} – [[TAI Anka]], [[TAI Aksungur]], [[Bayraktar TB2]], [[Bayraktar Akıncı]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://eurasianet.org/kyrgyzstan-buys-new-batch-of-turkish-made-drones|title=Kyrgyzstan buys new batch of Turkish-made drones|website=Eurasianet}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.defensemirror.com/news/35308/Kyrgyzstan_Inducts_Turkish_Akinci__Aksungur_Drones|title=Kyrgyzstan Inducts Turkish Akinci, Aksungur Drones|website=www.defensemirror.com}}</ref>
*{{flag|Libya}} – [[Bayraktar TB2]] (used by [[Government of National Accord|GNA]]) / [[CAIG Wing Loong II]] (used by [[Libyan National Army|LNA]])
*{{flag|Malaysia}} – [[TAI Anka]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/lima-2023-malaysia-orders-three-tai-ankas|title=LIMA 2023: Malaysia orders three TAI Ankas|first=Akhil|last=Kadidal|date=May 26, 2023|website=www.janes.com}}</ref>
*{{flag|Maldives}} –[[Bayraktar TB2]]
*{{flag|Mali}} – [[Bayraktar TB2]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.dailysabah.com/business/defense/mali-receives-new-batch-of-turkish-bayraktar-tb2-drones|title=Mali receives new batch of Turkish Bayraktar TB2 drones|date=January 4, 2024|website=Daily Sabah}}</ref>
*{{flag|Morocco}} – [[General Atomics MQ-9 Reaper|MQ-9 Reaper]], [[Bayraktar TB2]], [[CAIG Wing Loong]]<ref>{{cite web |title=Operating From The Shadows: Morocco's UAV Fleet |url=https://www.oryxspioenkop.com/2021/10/operating-from-shadows-moroccos-uav.html |website=Oryx}}</ref>
*{{flag|Myanmar}} – [[CASC Rainbow|CH-3A Rainbow]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://thediplomat.com/2016/06/is-myanmar-using-armed-chinese-drones-for-counterinsurgency/|title=Is Myanmar Using Armed Chinese Drones For Counterinsurgency?|author=Ankit Panda|date=2016-06-09|access-date=9 Jun 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200803090636/https://thediplomat.com/2016/06/is-myanmar-using-armed-chinese-drones-for-counterinsurgency/|archive-date=3 August 2020|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.armyrecognition.com/january_2020_global_defense_security_army_news_industry/myanmar_armed_forces_use_chinese_armed_drones_to_fight_rebels_in_the_country.html|title=Myanmar armed forces use Chinese armed drones to fight rebels in the country &#124; January 2020 Global Defense Security army news industry &#124; Defense Security global news industry army 2020 &#124; Archive News year|website=www.armyrecognition.com|date=9 January 2020 }}</ref> [[CASC Rainbow|CH-4 Rainbow]]<ref>{{Cite web|date=August 2019|title=Arms and Military Equipment Suppliers to the Tatmadaw|url=https://www.ohchr.org/Documents/HRBodies/HRCouncil/FFM-Myanmar/EconomicInterestsMyanmarMilitary/Infographic2_Arms_and_Military_Equipment_Suppliers.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201023041726/https://www.ohchr.org/Documents/HRBodies/HRCouncil/FFM-Myanmar/EconomicInterestsMyanmarMilitary/Infographic2_Arms_and_Military_Equipment_Suppliers.pdf|archive-date=23 October 2020 |url-status=live|website=United Nations Human Right Office of the High Commissioner|publisher=[[United Nations]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Weinberger |first=Sharon|date=10 May 2018|title=China Has Already Won the Drone Wars |url=https://foreignpolicy.com/2018/05/10/china-trump-middle-east-drone-wars/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201023095907/https://foreignpolicy.com/2018/05/10/china-trump-middle-east-drone-wars/|archive-date=23 October 2020}}</ref>
*{{flag|Netherlands}} – [[General Atomics MQ-9 Reaper|MQ-9 Reaper]]
*{{flag|Niger}} – [[Bayraktar TB2]]<ref name="bbc62485325">{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-62485325|title=Turkey's Bayraktar TB2 drone: Why African states are buying them|date=August 25, 2022|website=www.bbc.com}}</ref>
*{{flag|Nigeria}} – [[Asisguard Songar]], [[Bayraktar TB2]], [[CAIG Wing Loong]], [[CASC Rainbow]], Yabhon Flash-20<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://www.oryxspioenkop.com/2021/09/a-guide-to-nigerias-military-drones | title=A guide to Nigeria's military drones }}{{Dead link | date=September 2024 | fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>
*{{flag|Pakistan}} – [[NESCOM Burraq]], [[GIDS Shahpar-2]], [[CAIG Wing Loong II]], [[CASC Rainbow|CH-4 Rainbow]], [[Bayraktar TB2]], [[Bayraktar Akıncı]]
*{{flag|Poland}} – [[Bayraktar TB2]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://baykartech.com/en/press/poland-receives-1st-batch-of-turkish-bayraktar-tb2-combat-drones/|title=Poland receives 1st batch of Turkish Bayraktar TB2 combat drones|website=baykartech.com}}</ref>
*{{flag|Qatar}} – [[Bayraktar TB2]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.aa.com.tr/en/middle-east/turkeys-baykar-to-export-armed-uavs-to-qatar/1088587|title=Turkey's Baykar to export armed UAVs to Qatar|website=www.aa.com.tr}}</ref>
*{{flag|Romania}} – [[Bayraktar TB2]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.baykartech.com/en/press/romania-awards-321-million-contract-for-turkish-tb2-combat-drones/|title=Romania awards $321 million contract for Turkish TB2 combat drones|website=www.baykartech.com}}</ref>
*{{flag|Russia}} – [[Kronshtadt Orion]], [[IAI Searcher#Forpost-R|Forpost-R]], [[Shahed 129]], [[Mohajer-6]]
*{{flag|Rwanda}} – [[Bayraktar TB2]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://kampalapost.com/content/rwanda-procures-deadly-turkish-unmanned-aerial-vehicles|title=Rwanda Procures Deadly Turkish Unmanned Aerial Vehicles|website=The Kampala Post}}</ref>
*{{flag|Saudi Arabia}} – [[CAIG Wing Loong]],<ref name="JanesKazakhstan">{{cite web|url=http://www.janes.com/article/61042/kazakhstan-purchases-two-chinese-wing-loong-ucavs|title=Kazakhstan purchases two Chinese Wing-Loong UCAVs|last1=Fischer Junior|first1=Richard|website=IHS Jane's 360|format=7 June 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160608131122/http://www.janes.com/article/61042/kazakhstan-purchases-two-chinese-wing-loong-ucavs|archive-date=8 June 2016|access-date=7 November 2016}}</ref><ref name="ForeignPolicy">{{cite web|url=https://foreignpolicy.com/2015/03/20/chinas-weapons-of-mass-consumption/|title=China's Weapons of Mass Consumption|last1=Lin|first1=Joseph|date=20 March 2015|website=Foreign Policy|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161111070248/http://foreignpolicy.com/2015/03/20/chinas-weapons-of-mass-consumption/|archive-date=2016-11-11|url-status=live|access-date=7 November 2016|quote=Since 2011, China has also sold the Wing Loong, an armed drone, to several countries in Africa and the Middle East, including Nigeria, Egypt, and the United Arab Emirates.}}</ref> [[Vestel Karayel]]<ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-05-01|title=Saudi Arabia to Produce Turkish SIHA From 2021|url=https://raillynews.com/2020/05/saudi-arabia-will-produce-turk-siha-from-2021/|access-date=2020-11-14|website=RayHaber {{!}} RaillyNews|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-04-28|title=28.4.2020 - Saudi contract for Turkey's Karayel tactical UAS|url=https://www.abg-scportal.com/2020/04/28/28-4-2020-saudi-contract-for-turkeys-karayel-tactical-uas/|access-date=2020-11-14|website=ABG Strategic Consulting|language=en-GB|archive-date=2020-10-23|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201023111249/https://www.abg-scportal.com/2020/04/28/28-4-2020-saudi-contract-for-turkeys-karayel-tactical-uas/|url-status=dead}}</ref>
*{{flag|Serbia}} – [[Elbit Hermes 900]] (armed variant), CH-95, [[CASC Rainbow#CH-92|CH-92A]], [[Pegaz]]
*{{Flag|South Africa}} – [[Milkor 380]]<ref name="Military Africa">{{Cite web|url=https://www.military.africa/2023/10/the-largest-armed-uav-built-in-africa-milkor-380-takes-flight/|title=The largest armed UAV built in Africa -Milkor 380 takes flight|date=October 11, 2023}}</ref><ref name="DefenceWeb">{{Cite web|url=https://www.defenceweb.co.za/aerospace/aerospace-aerospace/cabinet-nod-of-approval-for-milkor-380-uav/|title=Cabinet nod of approval for Milkor 380 UAV|website=defenceWeb|date=November 7, 2023}}</ref>
*{{flag|Spain}} – [[General Atomics MQ-9 Reaper|MQ-9 Reaper]]
*{{Flag|Sudan}} – [[Qods Mohajer-6|Mohajer-6]], [[Ababil-3]] 
*{{flag|Syria}} – [[Qods Mohajer-6|Mohajer-6]], [[Mohajer-4]], [[Ababil-3]], [[HESA Ababil|Ababil-2]]
*{{Flag|Taiwan}}- [[NCSIST Teng Yun]], [[General Atomics MQ-9 Reaper|MQ-9 Reaper]] (on order)
*{{Flag|Tajikistan}}- [[Ababil-2]], [[Mohajer-2]]
*{{flag|Togo}} – [[Bayraktar TB2]]<ref name="bbc62485325"/>
*{{flag|Tunisia}} – [[TAI Anka]]<ref>{{Cite web |title= TUSAŞ'tan Tunus'a ANKA Teslimatı |url= https://www.savunmasanayist.com/tusastan-tunusa-anka-teslimati/ |date=13 November 2021 | language= turkish}}</ref>
*{{flag|Turkey}} – [[TAI Anka]], [[Bayraktar TB2]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=01j3_78yapk| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211110/01j3_78yapk| archive-date=2021-11-10 | url-status=live|title=Milli İHA Bayraktar'dan gerçek mühimmat ile tam isabet (full video)|date=30 April 2016|website=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}</ref> [[Vestel Karayel]],<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5NBS04ckgps Karayel UCAV MAM L Firing – Vestel Defence Industry] 16.06.2016: Vestel UCAV's firing test video 1</ref><ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yyOtd7jd7ic Karayel UCAV MAM-L Firing Test – Vestel Defence Industry] 25.06.2016: Vestel UCAV's firing test video 2</ref> [[TAI Aksungur]],<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.defenseworld.net/news/26090/Delivery_of_Aksungur_Combat_Drones_to_Turkey_in_Jan_2020#.YPxNF-gzaM8 |title=Delivery of Aksungur Combat Drones to Turkey in Jan 2020 |publisher=defenseworld.net |access-date=2021-07-24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210724173907/https://www.defenseworld.net/news/26090/Delivery_of_Aksungur_Combat_Drones_to_Turkey_in_Jan_2020 |archive-date=2021-07-24 |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Bayraktar Akıncı]]<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.defenseworld.net/news/29884/Turkey___s_Akinci_Combat_Drone_Armed_with_HGK_84_Bombs#.YPxSk-gzaM8 |title=Turkey's Akinci Combat Drone Armed with HGK-84 Bombs |publisher=defenseworld.net |access-date=2021-07-24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210724175043/https://www.airforce-technology.com/projects/bayraktar-akinci-unmanned-combat-aerial-vehicle-ucav/ |archive-date=2021-07-24 |url-status=live }}</ref>
*{{flag|Turkmenistan}} – [[Bayraktar TB2]], [[CASC Rainbow]], [[CASIC WJ]], Busel MB1, Busel MB2, Skystriker<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.oryxspioenkop.com/2022/02/turkmenistans-path-to-drone-power | title=Turkmenistan's path to drone power }}{{Dead link|date=September 2024 | fix-attempted=yes}}</ref>
*{{flag|Ukraine}} – [[Bayraktar TB2]],<ref>{{cite web |last1=Sariibrahimoglu |first1=Lale |title=Ukraine receives Bayraktar armed UAVs from Turkey |url=https://www.janes.com/article/87135/ukraine-receives-bayraktar-armed-uavs-from-turkey |website=Jane's 360 |access-date=11 March 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190311212735/https://www.janes.com/article/87135/ukraine-receives-bayraktar-armed-uavs-from-turkey |archive-date=11 March 2019 |location=Ankara |date=11 March 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref> [[R18 (drone)|R18]]
*{{flag|United Arab Emirates}} – [[Bayraktar TB2]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/blogs/menasource/the-uae-just-received-twenty-drones-from-turkey-whats-the-backstory/|title=The UAE just received twenty drones from Turkey. What's the backstory?|first=Holly|last=Dagres|date=November 16, 2022}}</ref> [[CAIG Wing Loong II]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.janes.com/article/77379/|title=UAE revealed as Wing Loong II launch customer|last1=Biggers|first1=Christopher|date=26 January 2018|website=IHS Jane's 360|location=Washington, DC|archive-url=https://archive.today/20180126105348/http://www.janes.com/article/77379/uae-revealed-as-wing-loong-ii-launch-customer|archive-date=26 January 2018|access-date=26 January 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bellingcat.com/news/2018/10/02/uav-infrastructure-noted-uaes-al-safran-airbase/|title=UAV Infrastructure Noted at the UAE's al-Safran Airbase|date=2 October 2018|publisher=Belling Cat}}</ref>
*{{flag|United Kingdom}} – [[General Atomics MQ-9 Reaper|MQ-9 Reaper/Protector RG1]]<ref name="TheGuardian">{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/news/datablog/2012/aug/03/drone-stocks-by-country|title=Drones by country: who has all the UAVs?|last1=Rogers|first1=Simon|date=3 August 2012|access-date=18 August 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150912032212/http://www.theguardian.com/news/datablog/2012/aug/03/drone-stocks-by-country|archive-date=2015-09-12|url-status=live|work=The Guardian}}</ref>
*{{flag|United States}} – [[General Atomics MQ-1 Predator|MQ-1 Predator]], [[General Atomics MQ-1C Gray Eagle|MQ-1C Gray Eagle]], [[General Atomics MQ-9 Reaper|MQ-9 Reaper]], [[Boeing MQ-25 Stingray]]
*{{Flag|Venezuela}}- [[Mohajer-6]], [[Mohajer-2]]
*
*{{div col end}}

== See also ==
{{Portal|Aviation}}
*[[Loyal wingman]] using AI
*[[Drone carrier]]
*[[Civilian casualties from US drone strikes]]
*[[History of unmanned aerial vehicles]]
*[[History of unmanned combat aerial vehicles]]
*[[List of unmanned aerial vehicles]]
*[[UAVs in the U.S. military]]

== Further reading ==

* Horowitz M, Schwartz JA, Fuhrmann M. 2020. "[[doi:10.1177/0738894220966572|Who’s prone to drone? A global time-series analysis of armed uninhabited aerial vehicle proliferation.]]" ''Conflict Management and Peace Science''.

== References ==
{{Reflist|30em}}

== External links ==
* {{Commons category-inline}}
* {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20110902194407/http://www.vectorsite.net/twuav.html ''Unmanned Aerial Vehicles'']}} by Greg Goebel (in the public domain)

{{Mobile robots}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Unmanned Combat Air Vehicle}}
[[Category:Unmanned military aircraft|*]]