Unmanned combat aerial vehicle
A combat drone is an uncrewed aerial vehicle used for military purposes. It may be used to observe enemy positions, gather intelligence or carry out attacks. Armed combat drones can carry weapons, while others are used only for surveillance and reconnaissance. The term is sometimes used to refer specifically to an unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV), although not all military drones are designed for combat.
Types
Combat drones vary in size, design and purpose. Some are reusable aircraft, while others are designed for a single mission.
- Small military drones: Compact aircraft equipped with cameras and other sensors. They are used to monitor battlefield activity and gather intelligence.
- Loitering munitions: Weapons that can remain airborne while searching for a target before striking it. They are sometimes referred to as kamikaze drones.
- Unmanned combat aerial vehicles: Aircraft designed to carry out attacks using onboard weapons.
Small systems such as the Switchblade 300 can be launched from a tube and used for surveillance or as a loitering munition, depending on the mission and configuration.
