The classic Reaper drone is basically a huge glider with a fancy lawn mower motor strapped to the middle. For the US and allies such as Australia, this means potential war with Russia or China. Military planners are looking to the conflicts of the future. Now, ISIS is largely defeated and hunting terrorists across the planet has lost its lustre. These wars pitted an advanced military machine against poorly equipped armies, insurgents and terrorist groups. But it's also because future wars may be very different to the recent American wars in Iraq, Afghanistan and Africa. That's partly because the technology is getting old. The US officially ended Predator operations three years ago and last year announced it would wind down production of Reapers faster than expected. The world's most iconic military drones are on their way out. People living under drones in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Yemen, Gaza and elsewhere report constant anxiety, never sure when the next strike will come.Īnd there is evidence to suggest drone strikes alienate and radicalise locals, sowing the seeds for further violence. Supporters also claim drones make war safer for civilians and soldiers by making it more technical and precise.īut thousands of civilians have been killed in American drone strikes alone.

And they can do all that without exposing their own crews to danger. Large drones like the Predator and Reaper help the US exert power across the globe.Įquipped with high-tech surveillance gear, these drones can provide support for soldiers on the ground as well as launch their own strikes. Military strategists around the world see drones as game changers. That's one reason why militaries prefer terms like 'remotely piloted aerial system' (RPAS) to 'drone'. In short, a huge amount of equipment and labour goes into operating military drones. If a lethal strike is on the table, the so-called 'kill chain' brings military lawyers and commanders into the process. Sort of, but drone crews include more than just pilots.ĭepending on the mission, dozens of image analysts might be involved. ( Getty: John Moore) But aren't drones just remote-control aircraft?

A US crew work in a ground control station at a secret air base.

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