![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/B7A55FOIGYFZKBAXT54SYJPQMI.jpg?smart=true&auth=57889b8b09fa658e35a164c09f3da0496e4476911aaa3215942ede32c0d425dd&width=400&height=225)
An X-47B pilot-less drone is launched for the first time off an aircraft carrier, the USS George H. W. Bush, in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Virginia.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/QJTZPP5QEFE67AGFK4ZUDYPHSM.jpg?smart=true&auth=6ba224107bd9d94df4db8880bf764da40913d4333e949f132e2d6964872fe004&width=400&height=225)
American sailors move a US Navy X-47B unmanned combat air system demonstrator on to an elevator aboard the aircraft carrier ‘USS George H.W. Bush’ in the Atlantic Ocean. The ship was the first to successfully catapult-launch an unmanned aircraft from its flight deck. Photo: US Navy
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/W46IICF7NJHJXEDRMYBMJ5OZFY.jpeg?smart=true&auth=559937b4ba38569ed628e9435a99e8a2994881d1a457c26e2881b64f379c88dc&width=400&height=225)
An RQ-4 Global Hawk unmanned aircraft like the one shown is currently flying non-military mapping missions over South America, Central America and the Caribbean at the request of partner nations in the region. Photo: US Air Force / Bobbi Zapka
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/JM3A765IUZCPVBXVWGWVNXKII4.jpeg?smart=true&auth=66695dc5d3c2a4df3dccfa534cc506acbf779226566c19f829becc89529ed4c6&width=400&height=225)
A still image, taken from a video footage released by Russia's Defence Ministry, shows a Russian Altius-U military long-range unmanned aerial vehicle during a test flight at an unknown location. Photo: Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation / Handout via Reuters
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/XBQX5XEBMNFL5PR4WUTTOM7I5U.jpeg?smart=true&auth=2c959d35121bf80fe3c0d5e0eb0dd07d56a05f104f1e2d9ac13b99782fea0084&width=400&height=225)
The first joint flight of a Sukhoi S-70 Okhotnik heavy unmanned combat aerial vehicle and a Sukhoi Su-57 jet fighter. As part of a testing programme, Okhotnik has performed a fully unmanned flight into an airborne alert area. Photo: Russian Defence Ministry / Tass
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/MBNDQFJ3ERBTBO3VKYFRAIQSA4.jpeg?smart=true&auth=9e552b9e7e2f9bd50cdb3a39192bab3f7b22ace97bedfbcda8134486d8c44a9d&width=400&height=225)
A screengrab of an S-70 unmanned combat air vehicle.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/TOVZMF54OFE6PEW2SQR7UCWLZI.jpeg?smart=true&auth=9c4a473218fdc4fd27c3cfb4ab2372f4def6abd63a272426c8391f935de9044a&width=400&height=225)
The Lockheed Martin SR-72, sometimes called Son of Blackbird, is a US hypersonic UAV drone intended for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance. Photo: Lockheed Martin
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/GE66R3CSRMVDSGOVRW6WMRAPU4.jpg?smart=true&auth=0b93415aae443caac588c05721f5fbb44bff39e40fb8c1824a65138bd744c538&width=400&height=225)
A team of 12th Aircraft Maintenance Unit Airmen walk beside an RQ-4 Global Hawk drone. EPA
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/B7A55FOIGYFZKBAXT54SYJPQMI.jpg?smart=true&auth=57889b8b09fa658e35a164c09f3da0496e4476911aaa3215942ede32c0d425dd&width=400&height=225)
An X-47B pilot-less drone is launched for the first time off an aircraft carrier, the USS George H. W. Bush, in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Virginia.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/QJTZPP5QEFE67AGFK4ZUDYPHSM.jpg?smart=true&auth=6ba224107bd9d94df4db8880bf764da40913d4333e949f132e2d6964872fe004&width=400&height=225)
American sailors move a US Navy X-47B unmanned combat air system demonstrator on to an elevator aboard the aircraft carrier ‘USS George H.W. Bush’ in the Atlantic Ocean. The ship was the first to successfully catapult-launch an unmanned aircraft from its flight deck. Photo: US Navy
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/W46IICF7NJHJXEDRMYBMJ5OZFY.jpeg?smart=true&auth=559937b4ba38569ed628e9435a99e8a2994881d1a457c26e2881b64f379c88dc&width=400&height=225)
An RQ-4 Global Hawk unmanned aircraft like the one shown is currently flying non-military mapping missions over South America, Central America and the Caribbean at the request of partner nations in the region. Photo: US Air Force / Bobbi Zapka
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/JM3A765IUZCPVBXVWGWVNXKII4.jpeg?smart=true&auth=66695dc5d3c2a4df3dccfa534cc506acbf779226566c19f829becc89529ed4c6&width=400&height=225)
A still image, taken from a video footage released by Russia's Defence Ministry, shows a Russian Altius-U military long-range unmanned aerial vehicle during a test flight at an unknown location. Photo: Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation / Handout via Reuters
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/XBQX5XEBMNFL5PR4WUTTOM7I5U.jpeg?smart=true&auth=2c959d35121bf80fe3c0d5e0eb0dd07d56a05f104f1e2d9ac13b99782fea0084&width=400&height=225)
The first joint flight of a Sukhoi S-70 Okhotnik heavy unmanned combat aerial vehicle and a Sukhoi Su-57 jet fighter. As part of a testing programme, Okhotnik has performed a fully unmanned flight into an airborne alert area. Photo: Russian Defence Ministry / Tass
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/MBNDQFJ3ERBTBO3VKYFRAIQSA4.jpeg?smart=true&auth=9e552b9e7e2f9bd50cdb3a39192bab3f7b22ace97bedfbcda8134486d8c44a9d&width=400&height=225)
A screengrab of an S-70 unmanned combat air vehicle.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/TOVZMF54OFE6PEW2SQR7UCWLZI.jpeg?smart=true&auth=9c4a473218fdc4fd27c3cfb4ab2372f4def6abd63a272426c8391f935de9044a&width=400&height=225)
The Lockheed Martin SR-72, sometimes called Son of Blackbird, is a US hypersonic UAV drone intended for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance. Photo: Lockheed Martin
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/GE66R3CSRMVDSGOVRW6WMRAPU4.jpg?smart=true&auth=0b93415aae443caac588c05721f5fbb44bff39e40fb8c1824a65138bd744c538&width=400&height=225)
A team of 12th Aircraft Maintenance Unit Airmen walk beside an RQ-4 Global Hawk drone. EPA
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/B7A55FOIGYFZKBAXT54SYJPQMI.jpg?smart=true&auth=57889b8b09fa658e35a164c09f3da0496e4476911aaa3215942ede32c0d425dd&width=400&height=225)
An X-47B pilot-less drone is launched for the first time off an aircraft carrier, the USS George H. W. Bush, in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Virginia.
In 2021 we saw the future of drone warfare: bigger, faster and better armed
Drones are taking on an increasing number of new missions, leading to an array of new designs
![Robert Tollast](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/https%3A%2F%2Fs3.amazonaws.com%2Farc-authors%2Fthenational%2F072875d5-f5fb-4517-9cce-38ace67d45b9.png?smart=true&auth=7af48bbbcf1a4e39e578898066778cb14924b2c9315abfd913973725dbda45d3&width=70&height=70)
Robert Tollast
24 December, 2021
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