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> FFS drones are basicly RC planes.... Ahem. It's a bit of a stretch to call Reapers and Predators RC planes. Not to mentioned UAV spacecraft[1, 2] [1] https:

• Jtsummers 12y ago
  It is a stretch, but not a huge one. UAV tech used in the military has a high degree of variation. They use everything from custom made [1] UAVs with a lawn mower engine on up to full jet powered aircraft to the spacecraft you've linked to. The lower end aircraft are the more portable ones (can be carried into a region) and really aren't much more complex than a hobbyists RC plane. Primary difference being the sensor package and hopefully a more secure communication and control system than the typical hobbyist RC aircraft would use. [1] EDIT: I suppose, really, all of them are custom and not COTS, yet. I meant one-off, low production UAVs with a specific application in mind. Their design standards are far lower (because of cost) and have no real maintenance plan (again, because of cost). They just need cameras in the sky in a specific area, and sending another aircraft (like Predator) out may not be feasible (cost, time, risk).
• walshemj 12y ago
  the V1 had far less controllability than a model rc plane but was an effective UAV back in ww2