U.S. military showcases five advanced drones for diverse missions

The U.S. military operates a diverse fleet of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) for various missions, primarily intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance. This includes five notable drones: the MQ-1C Gray Eagle, MQ-9 Reaper, RQ-11 Raven, RQ-21 Blackjack, and RQ-20 Puma. The MQ-1C Gray Eagle, introduced in 2009, enhances capabilities with a longer wingspan and greater payload than its predecessor, the MQ-1 Predator. The MQ-9 Reaper, operational since 2007, offers significantly increased power and payload capacity, allowing for more complex missions. The RQ-11 Raven, a small hand-launched drone, is widely used for real-time ISR tasks. The RQ-21 Blackjack and RQ-20 Puma, introduced in 2014 and 2008 respectively, provide tactical support with advanced surveillance features and operational flexibility for land and maritime missions.