MQ-9 Reaper, Bayraktar TB2, Hermes 900...: Meet world's most advanced combat military drones; Pakistan has two, India has...
Most advanced drones: Combat drones have completely changed how wars are fought in modern age, and played a critical role in several major conflicts across the globe in recent times, including the Russia-Ukraine war, the Israel-Iran war, and the recent India-Pakistan conflict. Let us take a look at some of the world's deadliest and most advanced combat military drones, and find out how many of these India has in its arsenal. Here are the world most advanced military drones: MQ-9 Reaper (Predator drone)
The US-made MQ-9 Reaper, commonly known as the Predator drone, is arguably the world's most advanced and dangerous military drone, capable of tracking and destroying enemy targets from including battle tanks, military bases, and radar installations from an altitude of over 50,000 feet.
This advanced drone is equipped with electro-optical/infrared (EO/IR) cameras, synthetic aperture radar (SAR) and laser targeting systems.
The Predator drone can carry up to eight Hellfire missiles and around 1,700 kilos of explosives, making it a deadly offensive weapon for any country. India has finalized a deal with the US to acquire a fleet of 31 Predator drones. Bayraktar TB2
The Bayraktar TB2 drone is perhaps the most famous military drone manufactured by Turkey, and gained notoriety for essentially changing the course of the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh war, when Azerbaijan, despite having a smaller military force, used these advanced military drones and Israeli Kamikaze drones, to hand a decisive defeat to Armenia — a larger military power who had Russian T72 tanks, missiles and rockets.
Known for its deadly, precise attacks, the Bayraktar TB2 is capable of flying continuously for 27 hours and can reach a height of 25,000 feet. It can carry four laser-guided bombs or rockets and is able to track and neutralize its targets using its onboard tracking system, without the need of GPS or other external guidance systems. RQ-4 Global Hawk
A staple of the US Air Force, the Northrop Grumman's RQ-4 Global Hawk is an advanced surveillance drone, which can fly continuously for over 30 hours at an altitude of more than 60,000 feet. Equipped with a synthetic aperture radar, electro-optical and infrared sensors, the RQ-4 Global Hawk is capable of monitoring a large area in all weather conditions irrespective of time of the day. CH-5 Rainbow
Developed by the Beijing's state-owned China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC), the CH-5 Rainbow is a multirole combat drone that can fly continuously at an altitude of 30,000 feet for up to 60 hours, and carry a payload of up to 1000 kg. The drone is equipped with advanced electro-optical and infrared sensors, allowing it capture high-resolution imagery and highly-accurate targeting data. Hermes 900
The Israeli-made Hermes 900 is one of the world's most advanced combat drones. Developed by Israel's Elbit Systems, the multirole UCAV can fly at an altitude of up to 30,000 feet for over 36 hours at a time. The drone can carry a payload of up to 350 kg, and is equipped with advanced sensors for surveillance mission.
Apart from Israel, India is among the few countries to induct the Hermes 900 UCAV into its armed forces. S-70 Okhotnik
Developed by Russian aerospace manufacturer Sukhoi, the S-70 Okhotnik, aka the Hunter drone, is a next-generation stealth Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicle (UCAV), featuring advanced stealth features for strike and reconnaissance missions deep inside enemy territory.
The Russian drone has a flying-wing with a similar width to that of the US' famous B-2 bomber, and boasts an operational range of about 6,000 km (3,700 miles), reaching speeds of up to a 1,000 kmph (621 mph). TAI Aksungur UCAV
The Turkish-made TAI Aksungur drone, which was used Pakistan against India during Operation Sindoor, is a twin-engine, medium-altitude long-endurance UCAV developed by Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI).
The advanced UCAV is designed for multirole missions, including surveillance, maritime patrol and combat operation, and can carry a payload of up to 750 kg, including guided weapons such as MAM-L smart micro munitions and Roketsan SOM missiles.
The TAI Aksungur UCAV can reach an altitude of up to 40,000 feet and fly continuously for nearly 50 hours. Which drones does India have?
Out of the ones listed above, India currently employs the Israeli-made Hermes 900, but also inked a deal with the United States to acquire the MQ-9 Reaper, aka the Predator drone. Pakistan, India's arch rival, has two out of the above list– the TAI Aksungur UCAV and the Bayraktar TB2 combat drone– both Turkish-made.
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The MQ-9 Reaper, aka the Predator drone, is arguably the world's most advanced and the deadliest combat drone. (File) Most advanced drones: Combat drones have completely changed how wars are fought in modern age, and played a critical role in several major conflicts across the globe in recent times, including the Russia-Ukraine war, the Israel-Iran war, and the recent India-Pakistan conflict. Let us take a look at some of the world's deadliest and most advanced combat military drones, and find out how many of these India has in its arsenal. Here are the world most advanced military drones: MQ-9 Reaper (Predator drone) The US-made MQ-9 Reaper, commonly known as the Predator drone, is arguably the world's most advanced and dangerous military drone, capable of tracking and destroying enemy targets from including battle tanks, military bases, and radar installations from an altitude of over 50,000 feet. This advanced drone is equipped with electro-optical/infrared (EO/IR) cameras, synthetic aperture radar (SAR) and laser targeting systems. The Predator drone can carry up to eight Hellfire missiles and around 1,700 kilos of explosives, making it a deadly offensive weapon for any country. India has finalized a deal with the US to acquire a fleet of 31 Predator drones. Bayraktar TB2 The Bayraktar TB2 drone is perhaps the most famous military drone manufactured by Turkey, and gained notoriety for essentially changing the course of the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh war, when Azerbaijan, despite having a smaller military force, used these advanced military drones and Israeli Kamikaze drones, to hand a decisive defeat to Armenia — a larger military power who had Russian T72 tanks, missiles and rockets. Known for its deadly, precise attacks, the Bayraktar TB2 is capable of flying continuously for 27 hours and can reach a height of 25,000 feet. It can carry four laser-guided bombs or rockets and is able to track and neutralize its targets using its onboard tracking system, without the need of GPS or other external guidance systems. RQ-4 Global Hawk A staple of the US Air Force, the Northrop Grumman's RQ-4 Global Hawk is an advanced surveillance drone, which can fly continuously for over 30 hours at an altitude of more than 60,000 feet. Equipped with a synthetic aperture radar, electro-optical and infrared sensors, the RQ-4 Global Hawk is capable of monitoring a large area in all weather conditions irrespective of time of the day. CH-5 Rainbow Developed by the Beijing's state-owned China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC), the CH-5 Rainbow is a multirole combat drone that can fly continuously at an altitude of 30,000 feet for up to 60 hours, and carry a payload of up to 1000 kg. The drone is equipped with advanced electro-optical and infrared sensors, allowing it capture high-resolution imagery and highly-accurate targeting data. Hermes 900 The Israeli-made Hermes 900 is one of the world's most advanced combat drones. Developed by Israel's Elbit Systems, the multirole UCAV can fly at an altitude of up to 30,000 feet for over 36 hours at a time. The drone can carry a payload of up to 350 kg, and is equipped with advanced sensors for surveillance mission. Apart from Israel, India is among the few countries to induct the Hermes 900 UCAV into its armed forces. S-70 Okhotnik Developed by Russian aerospace manufacturer Sukhoi, the S-70 Okhotnik, aka the Hunter drone, is a next-generation stealth Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicle (UCAV), featuring advanced stealth features for strike and reconnaissance missions deep inside enemy territory. The Russian drone has a flying-wing with a similar width to that of the US' famous B-2 bomber, and boasts an operational range of about 6,000 km (3,700 miles), reaching speeds of up to a 1,000 kmph (621 mph). TAI Aksungur UCAV The Turkish-made TAI Aksungur drone, which was used Pakistan against India during Operation Sindoor, is a twin-engine, medium-altitude long-endurance UCAV developed by Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI). The advanced UCAV is designed for multirole missions, including surveillance, maritime patrol and combat operation, and can carry a payload of up to 750 kg, including guided weapons such as MAM-L smart micro munitions and Roketsan SOM missiles. The TAI Aksungur UCAV can reach an altitude of up to 40,000 feet and fly continuously for nearly 50 hours. Which drones does India have? Out of the ones listed above, India currently employs the Israeli-made Hermes 900, but also inked a deal with the United States to acquire the MQ-9 Reaper, aka the Predator drone. Pakistan, India's arch rival, has two out of the above list– the TAI Aksungur UCAV and the Bayraktar TB2 combat drone– both Turkish-made.
