The 5 Most Advanced Military Drones In The World Right Now

Drones are changing the tide of the current war in Ukraine and creating a shift in battlefield tactics around the world. From the USA to Russia, China and India, many countries claim to have the most powerful unmanned arsenal, but some are stronger than others. Welcome to Technology, I'm Alex Malky, and today we're going to be exploring the top 5 most advanced combat drones in the world. Before we get started, make sure to hit that subscribe button so you never miss another episode of Technology. As war rages on in Ukraine, a secret weapon is being utilized that's giving the invading Russians a hard enough time, drones. But not just any drones. This is the Baykar Bayraktar TB2. Manufactured in Turkey, the TB2 is a medium-altitude, long-range tactical unmanned aerial vehicle, UAV for short. Housing an infrared camera, this is the perfect eye in the sky for sneaking a peek at enemy operations. But this 6.5-meter-long drone is more than just a spy, able to carry 330 pounds of payload. The bombs it carries can adjust their trajectories in mid-air and find their targets with terrifying precision. Powered by a 100-mph engine and soaring at a whopping 27,000 feet, the TB2 is one of the best tools at taking out some of the most advanced air defense systems and armored vehicles in the world. As technology advances, so do the tools of war. One of the greatest arguments for drone technology is that it removes the reliance on human soldiers. And for that reason, the United States military is pushing drone technology to its limits. The General Atomics Predator-C Avenger is the most feared U.S. Air Force drone in the world. Capable of geolocating threats in real-time, the Predator-C generates an airborne network connecting to satellites in order to protect both air and ground soldiers. If the Avenger is fired upon by missiles, a small orb will slide out from below it, unleashing a powerful laser that will destroy the missiles in mid-air. Designed for range and endurance, this $50 million drone moves at jet speeds of 460 mph, making it one of the most advanced UAVs in the world. As world superpowers build up their arsenal, some countries are looking to get out ahead in this race for technological warfare. While the United States Avenger casts a long shadow on the battlefield, China is stepping up with its own contender. The CH-6, also known as the Flying Grenade. With a wingspan of over 20 meters, this beast of a UAV weighs nearly 8 tons. But that hefty body doesn't hold the CH-6 back from hitting speeds of 800 mph. China's drone can carry close to a thousand pounds in payloads, including traditional air-to-surface missiles as well as futuristic lasers, flying for up to 20 hours before needing to land. The China Academy of Aerospace Aerodynamics is able to manufacture one of the most advanced drones the world has ever seen for a cool $6 million, half of what its American counterpart costs. The closer we get to the cutting edge of military technology, the more we delve into highly classified information. Case in point, the DRDO-GATTAC. Developed by India's Defense Research and Development Organization, there is very little known about this incredibly futuristic weapon, but what we do know is impressive. Nicknamed SWIFT, this is the next step in drone technology, blurring the lines between manned and unmanned aircrafts. Weighing in at one ton, the GATTAC is capable of flying at jet speeds, with an arsenal at its disposal that can be positioned at a moment's notice. But more importantly, the drone is a stealth powerhouse, able to move in and out of an enemy's airspace without them ever knowing. Add to that a payload of precision-guided air-to-ground missiles, and you've got the makings of a very fast, almost invisible, unmanned assassin. And finally, we come to Russia, a country facing down drones daily as the war in Ukraine rages on, and what they're cooking up is a highly classified technological marvel. Looking like something out of Star Wars, the S-70 Okhotnik was designed with one thing in mind, stealth. The flying wing design, opting for more wing space over the tail you normally find on more traditional drones or planes, is coded in stealth tech, allowing it to maneuver low to the ground without raising an enemy's alarm. The S-70 isn't just stealthy, carrying a whopping 4,000 pounds of guided and unguided missile payload, coupled with a state-of-the-art jet engine strapped to its back. This is one of the most tactical and deadly drones the world has ever seen. From the Turkish TB-2 soaring 27,000 feet over the Ukrainian battlefield, to the highly classified Russian S-70 stealth UAV, drones are changing the landscape of war. When the United States shows up with the laser-firing Avenger, China answers back with the CH-6, and India is keeping up every step of the way with the Gatak stealth assassin. Which of these do you think is the most advanced combat drone in the world? Let us know in the comments, and I'll see you in the future.