Latest news with #MQ-9Reaper
Hindustan Times
20-05-2025
- Science
- Hindustan Times
Taiwan invasion soon? China unveils drone 'mothership' Jiu Tian that can carry 100 attack drones
China is set to unveil the world's first drone 'mothership'—the Jiu Tian carrier—designed to launch up to 100 AI-guided kamikaze drones. With a range of 7,000 km and advanced swarm-launch capabilities, Jiu Tian could change the rules of aerial warfare. Unveiled at the Zhuhai Air Show 2024, it mirrors and surpasses Western systems like the MQ-9 Reaper and the RQ-4 Global Hawk. As China escalates threats to Taiwan, this new technology signals a major shift in military power. Watch to learn how Jiu Tian could impact the Taiwan Strait and global security.
India Today
19-05-2025
- Business
- India Today
Who has armed drones?
More countries than ever now operate armed drones that can surveil, loiter and strike across borders, without sending a single soldier. At least 48 nations possess medium-altitude and long-endurance (MALE) systems, a class of military drones typified by the US MQ-9 Reaper and Turkey's Bayraktar TB2. This global shift has redrawn the map of remote has become the top supplier of armed MALE drones, surpassing the US and IT MATTERS?Drones change how wars are fought, often without troops crossing borders. According to a website called that tracks drone-related data and analysis, Turkey has emerged as the world's leading exporter of armed MALE drones. Since 2021, it has supplied these systems to at least 28 countries, more than China (14), the US (six) and Iran (three) Bayraktar TB2, Turkey's flagship drone, is now being operated across Europe, Africa, the Middle East and Central Asia. This marks a shift in global defence supply chains - from traditional Western dominance to new regional powers shaping how modern wars are NUMBERSAs many as 48 countries now operate armed MALE least 28 of them were supplied by many as 14 countries received drones from countries from the US and three from least 15 countries use drones within their countries have carried out cross-border drone DEPTHadvertisementThe use of MALE drones has expanded rapidly. These drones can loiter for over 24 hours and strike targets with precision. MALE drones like the Bayraktar TB2, Wing Loong and MQ-9 Reaper are no longer exclusive to major March 2025, 48 countries had acquired armed MALE drones. While early adopters like the US (2001) and Israel (2004) developed their systems, most states acquired drones through imports. The trend accelerated after 2021, driven by Turkey, which has supplied MALE drones to 28 countries, including first-time operators, like Kenya, Bangladesh and has exported to 14 countries, mainly Africa and the Middle East. Only a handful of countries, such as Iran, Israel, China, Turkey and the US have developed MALE drones domestically. The rest rely entirely on foreign countries, including Ukraine, Morocco and Ethiopia, operate drones from multiple sources, signalling a shift toward mixed growth is in hardware and capability: More countries are using drones for cross-border strikes or internal security, making them an integral part of modern military has become a key player in the global drone landscape, not just as a supplier but as a military innovator. In a widely publicised test in early 2025, a Turkish-made TB3 drone successfully launched from and landed on the TCG Anadolu, the country's first aircraft carrier. Nato sees Turkey as a crucial defence member and partner, especially as tensions with Russia Watch
India.com
19-05-2025
- India.com
India, China, Iran, Turkey or US, which country's military has world's most powerful and dangerous drones?
New Delhi: The role of drones has become extremely important in modern warfare and they are playing a decisive role in the Russia-Ukraine war. The world is rapidly advancing in the field of drone technology as it strengthens military power and plays a decisive role. Here we will discuss which country is possessing the most dangerous drone? United States The MQ-9 Reaper drone from the United States is considered the most powerful and dangerous drone in the world. The MQ-9 Reaper was developed by America's General Atomics Aeronautical Systems. It is known for its precise attacks. This an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) is specifically designed for surveillance, target tracking, and precise strikes. The MQ-9 Reaper's striking capability, flying range, and advanced technology set it apart from other drones. This drone has an operational range of approximately 1,900 kilometers and can fly at an altitude of 50,000 feet. The MQ-9 is remotely controlled by two operators and is capable of destroying targets with high precision. Its price range is 15-30 million dollars (approximately 125 to 250 crores rupees), determined according to its capabilities. Other countries are also advancing in drone technology. Turkey Turkey's Bayraktar TB2 and Akıncı drones are famous for their excellent performance at a low cost. Bayraktar TB2 unmanned combat aerial vehicle is capable of remotely controlled or autonomous flight operations. The Bayraktar Akıncı is a high-altitude long-endurance unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV). Akıncı is equipped with two turboprop engines of either 450 hp (460 PS; 340 kW) or 750 hp (760 PS; 560 kW), as well as electronic support and ECM systems, dual satellite communication systems, air-to-air radar, collision avoidance radar, and advanced synthetic-aperture radar. China China also has special drones. China's Wing Loong II is a medium-altitude long-endurance drone, with a price range of 2 to 5 million dollars. It is capable of remotely controlled or autonomous flight. It was intended for use as a surveillance and aerial reconnaissance and precision strike platform. It has a slender fuselage, V-tail, and ventral fin. The aircraft features retractable landing gear, including two main wheels under the fuselage and one single wheel under the nose. Each wing has three hardpoints under the wings with the capability of carrying bombs, rockets, or air-to-surface missiles. A satellite communications antenna is situated on the top front surface of the fuselage, offering long range data transmission between the UAV and the ground station. Israel Israel's Heron TP is used for strategic missions and costs 10 to 20 million dollars. The Heron TP is known for its long endurance, allowing it to operate for up to 27 hours at altitudes of up to 12.5 km. The Heron TP is used for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) missions, as well as for maritime surveillance and other strategic roles. It can fly at altitudes of up to 12.5 km (41,000 feet), providing a wide-ranging view for surveillance and reconnaissance. It utilizes advanced real-time data transmission, ensuring that critical intelligence is relayed quickly to ground operators for informed decision-making. The Heron TP is a key part of India's surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities, with various units of the Indian Army, Indian Air Force, and Indian Navy using it. India India has the Rustom-II (TAPAS) drone developed by DRDO. Rustom-II, also known as TAPAS-BH (Tactical Airborne Platform for Aerial Surveillance-Beyond Horizon 201), is a medium-altitude long-endurance (MALE) unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) developed by India. It's designed for observation and surveillance missions and can carry various payloads like synthetic aperture radar and electronic intelligence systems. TAPAS-BH is capable of carrying various payloads, including synthetic aperture radar, electronic intelligence systems, and situational awareness systems.
India.com
15-05-2025
- India.com
World's five most lethal killer drones; Pakistan's Turkish Songars are no match, India has...
US-made MQ-9 Reaper is the most lethal drone in the world. (File) During the recent India-Pakistan tensions, Pakistan attacked Indian cities and military sites with an estimated 300-400 Turkish-made Songar drones, which were successfully neutralized by India's S-400 Triumf air defense. While the Asisguard Songar drones are undoubtedly a formidable aerial threat for any country, let us take a look at the world's five most lethal killer drones, which could bring entire armies to their knees. MQ-9 Reaper aka the 'Predator' drone The US-made MQ-9 Reaper, commonly known as the Predator drone, is arguably the world's most 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. 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. Mohajir-6 Second on the list is Iran's Mohajir-6 a multirole unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UAEV), which is capable of carrying out surveillance missiles, as well as fire lethal Qaem and Almas missiles at enemy targets, sometimes even simultaneously if required. The Mohajir-6 is designed for long-distance flights and precision attack, making it a lethal threat for any enemy. 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. Switchblade kamikaze drones The AeroVironment Switchblade is a Loitering Munition System (LMS), which is small enough to fit inside a backpack, making it highly mobile. It comes in two variants, the Switchblade 300 — which is the smaller mobile variant used mainly against human targets, and the Switchblade 600– a heavier, anti-armour variant was unveiled in 2020, used to blow up tanks, armored vehicles and bunkers. This kamikaze, or suicide drone, used by the United States military, hovers in the air till it locates its intended target, and then dives into it, triggering the explosives it carries to destroy the target as well as itself. ZALA Lancet UAV Developed by Russian aerospace manufacturer ZALA Aero Group for the Russian Armed Forces, the ZALA Lancet is an unmanned aerial vehicle and loitering munition system (LMS), which has caused wreaked widespread carnage on Ukrainian forces during the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war. The ZALA Lancet weighs only 12kg and carries 3 kg of explosives, which it detonates upon striking the target after identifying it using GPS coordinates or on-board camera. The ZALA drone can also be controlled manually by a human operator. Which drones does India have? The Indian Armed Forces have the lethal Harpy and Harop drones– both Israeli-made loitering munitions– that were extensively used during Operation Sindoor to devastating effect against Pakistani military targets as well as terrorist camps on the night of May 7.
Sydney Morning Herald
13-05-2025
- Politics
- Sydney Morning Herald
Just call it a win: What's behind Trump's sudden victory declaration against the Houthis?
When he approved a campaign to reopen shipping in the Red Sea by bombing the Houthi militant group into submission, President Donald Trump wanted to see results within 30 days of the initial strikes two months ago. By day 31, Trump, ever cautious of drawn-out military entanglements in the Middle East, demanded a progress report, according to administration officials. But the results were not there. The United States had not even established air superiority over the Houthis. Instead, what was emerging after 30 days of a stepped-up campaign against the Yemeni group was another expensive but inconclusive American military engagement in the region. The Houthis shot down several American MQ-9 Reaper drones and continued to fire at naval ships in the Red Sea, including an American aircraft carrier. And the US strikes burned through weapons and munitions at a rate of about $1 billion in the first month alone. It did not help that two $93 million F/A-18 Super Hornets from America's flagship aircraft carrier tasked with conducting strikes against the Houthis accidentally tumbled off the carrier into the sea. By then, Trump had had enough. Steve Witkoff, his Middle East envoy, who was already in Omani-mediated nuclear talks with Iran, reported that Omani officials had suggested what could be a perfect off-ramp for Trump on the separate issue of the Houthis, according to American and Arab officials. The United States would halt the bombing campaign, and the militia would no longer target American ships in the Red Sea, but without any agreement to stop disrupting shipping that the group deemed helpful to Israel. US Central Command officials received a sudden order from the White House on May 5 to 'pause' offensive operations. The sudden declaration of victory over the Houthis demonstrates how some members of the president's national security team underestimated a group known for its resilience. General Michael Kurilla, the head of Central Command, had pressed for a forceful campaign, which the defence secretary and the national security adviser initially supported, according to several officials with knowledge of the discussions. But the Houthis reinforced many of their bunkers and weapons depots throughout the intense bombing. Significantly, the men also misjudged their boss's tolerance for military conflict in the region, which he is visiting this week, with stops in Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates. Trump has never bought into long-running military entanglements in the Middle East, and spent his first term trying to bring troops home from Syria, Afghanistan and Iraq. What's more, Trump's new chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Dan Caine, was concerned that an extended campaign against the Houthis would drain military resources away from the Asia-Pacific region. His predecessor, General Charles Brown Jr, shared that view before he was fired in February. Ready to move on By May 5, Trump was ready to move on, according to interviews with more than a dozen current and former officials with knowledge of the discussions in the president's national security circle. They spoke on condition of anonymity to describe the internal discussions. 'We honour their commitment and their word,' Trump said in remarks at the White House on Wednesday. A White House spokesperson, Anna Kelly, said in a statement to The New York Times that 'President Trump successfully delivered a ceasefire, which is another good deal for America and our security.' She added that the US military had carried out more than 1100 strikes, killing hundreds of Houthi fighters and destroying their weapons and equipment. The chief Pentagon spokesperson, Sean Parnell, said the operation was always meant to be limited. 'Every aspect of the campaign was co-ordinated at the highest levels of civilian and military leadership,' he said in an emailed statement. A former senior official familiar with the conversations about Yemen defended Michael Waltz, Trump's former national security adviser, saying he took a co-ordinating role and was not pushing for any policy beyond wanting to see the president's goal fulfilled. Kurilla had been gunning for the Houthis since November 2023, when the group began attacking ships passing through the Red Sea as a way to target Israel for its invasion of the Gaza Strip. But president Joe Biden thought that engaging the Houthis in a forceful campaign would elevate their status on the global stage. Instead, he authorised more limited strikes – but that failed to stop the Houthis. Now, Kurilla had a new commander-in-chief. He proposed an eight- to 10-month campaign in which air force and navy warplanes would take out Houthi air defence systems. Then, he said, US forces would mount targeted assassinations modelled on Israel's recent operation against Hezbollah, three US officials said. Saudi officials backed Kurilla's plan and provided a target list of 12 Houthi senior leaders whose deaths, they said, would cripple the movement. But the United Arab Emirates, another powerful US ally in the region, was not so sure. The Houthis had weathered years of bombings by the Saudis and the Emiratis. By early March, Trump had signed off on part of Kurilla's plan – airstrikes against Houthi air defence systems and strikes against the group's leaders. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth named the campaign Operation Rough Rider. At some point, Kurilla's eight-to-10-month campaign was given just 30 days to show results. Loading In those first 30 days, the Houthis shot down seven American MQ-9 drones (costing around $46.7 million each), hampering Central Command's ability to track and strike the militant group. Several American F-16s and an F-35 fighter jet were nearly struck by Houthi air defences, making real the possibility of American casualties, multiple US officials said. That possibility became reality when two pilots and a flight deck crew member were injured in the two episodes involving the F/A-18 Super Hornets, which fell into the Red Sea from the aircraft carrier Harry S. Truman within 10 days of each other. US strikes had hit more than 1000 targets, including multiple command and control facilities, air defence systems, advanced weapons manufacturing facilities and advanced weapons storage locations, the Pentagon reported. In addition, more than a dozen senior Houthi leaders had been killed, the military said. But the cost of the operation was staggering. The Pentagon had deployed two aircraft carriers, additional B-2 bombers and fighter jets, as well as Patriot and THAAD air defences, to the Middle East, officials acknowledged privately. By the end of the first 30 days of the campaign, the cost had exceeded $US1 billion ($1.6 billion), the officials said. The White House began pressing Central Command for metrics of success in the campaign. The command responded by providing data showing the number of munitions dropped. The intelligence community said that there was 'some degradation' of Houthi capability, but argued that the group could easily reconstitute, officials said. In late April, Hegseth organised a video call with Saudi and Emirati officials and senior officials from the State Department and the White House to come up with a sustainable way forward and an achievable state for the campaign that they could present to the president. The group was unable to reach a consensus, US officials said. On April 28, the Truman was forced to make a hard turn at sea to avoid incoming Houthi fire, several US officials said. The move contributed to the loss of one of the Super Hornets, which was being towed at the time and fell overboard. That same day, dozens of people were killed in a US attack that hit a migrant facility controlled by the Houthis, according to the group and aid officials. Then on May 4, a Houthi ballistic missile evaded Israel's aerial defences and struck near Ben-Gurion International Airport outside Tel Aviv. On May 6, two pilots aboard another Super Hornet, again on the Truman, were forced to eject after their fighter jet failed to catch the steel cable on the carrier deck, sending the plane into the Red Sea. By then, Trump had decided to declare the operation a success. Houthi officials and their supporters swiftly declared victory, too, spreading a social media hashtag that read 'Yemen defeats America'.
