Unmanned combat aerial vehicle

A drone (Switchblade 300) being used by a US Army soldier

A combat drone, also called attack drone, strike drone or unmanned combat aerial vehicle is designed for military use. Sometimes it is just called a drone. It usually carries cameras and other instruments to gather information about the battlefield, and radios to communicate its information. It may also carry a bomb or other weapon, or none.

Different drones

• The switchblade drone, a small drone that can be launched from a hand-held tube. It has a high-resolution camera. It can be used for reconnaissance and surveillance missions.
• Phoenix Ghost, a kind of drone that can blow up (or explosive drone) or loitering munition (see munition)

Related pages

• Loitering weapon