Uncrewed aerial vehicle (UAV) General Atomics MQ-1 Predator, a reconnaissance UAV of the U.S. Air Force, 2006. (more) Drone Warfare in the 21st Century Written by Joe Coles Joe Coles is a distinguished writer, editor, and aeronautical journalist with over two decades of experience exploring the world of aviation. He is the founder and editor-in-chief of Hush-Kit,... Joe Coles Fact-checked by Britannica Editors Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree.... Britannica Editors Last updated May 8, 2026 •History Uncrewed air vehicles (UAVs), colloquially known as drones, have existed since the First World War. Throughout the 20th century they remained something of a niche capability, performing limited surveillance and intelligence roles, notably during such conflicts as the Vietnam War. UAVs were also long used as targets for gunnery and missile-firing practice and testing. But their influence on the broader strategic environment was relatively modest. In the wake of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks,...

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