UAV stands for Unmanned Aerial vehicle which means the pilot is not in the vehicle and is somewhere else controlling it. They were first creaded and used in World War I in 1917 and have been evolving ever since. UAVs have many purposes, Survelliance/Reconnaissance, combat (UCAV), and targeting. After the 9/11 attack, drones have been more commonly used for survelliance purposes to protect friendly soldiers. Other times drones are equiped with ordinance for airstrikes like the MQ-9 Reaper.
Here are some UAVs and their purpose
MQ-1 Predator: Most famous UAV, downward tail, able to carry two hellfire missiles. Used for armed Survelliance. The start of UCAVs (Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicles).
MQ-9 Reaper: Younger brother of predator, top tail, moer powerful engine allows for it to stay up 3 times longer than the predator. Able to carry up to 14 missiles,
X-47B: Tailless strike fighter for the U.S Navy for high alltitude strikes.
Sea Avenger: Drone with an internal bomb/missile bay, has an S-shaped engine exhaust to help with thermal reduction. Used for more attack than recon
X-51 Waverider: An experimental hypersonic drone that can go up to 3452.71 mph and holds the record of the longest hypersonic flight. This was used to see how to make hypersonic missiles
Ebee: Civilian type drone, wingspan of uinder 3 feet, uses a very powerful camera to give an accurate mapping of the area.
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