The Evolution of Military Culture: A Journey from Spears to Drones

From tribal honor codes to elaborate chivalric ideals, from the professional ethos of standing armies to the democratic spirit of citizen soldiers, military culture has evolved dramatically, reflecting a fascinating dance between society, technology, geopolitics, and the soldiers who serve.

Watch: Marines skip the runway, snatch their drones out of midair

The introduction of drones has led to a number of shifts in the way America’s military conducts both combat and reconnaissance operations. Drones like the MQ-1 Predator and the MQ-9 Reaper have demonstrated that large-scale drones, comparable in size to many aircraft already employed by the U.S. military, offer a real value to the war […]

Watch: US Military Releases Swarm of Micro-Drones from F/A-18

The US military recently tested a ‘swarm’ of over 100 Perdix micro-drones that were released in the skies over southern California by F-18 Hornets. The drones which are only 11.8 inches (30 cm) long communicate with each other via artificial intelligence and reportedly make decisions together. It is thought that the drones working together in […]

Why the future of military aviation isn’t unmanned — at least for now

With a rapidly developing military drone industry growing in prominence the world over, and heavyweight defense contractors like Northrop Grumman devoting a large portion of their overall R&D programs to unmanned aerial vehicles, it’s easy to see that the future of military aviation will be largely unmanned. The benefits of such a transition are extensive, […]

The future of military aviation isn’t unmanned — at least for now

With a rapidly developing military drone industry growing in prominence the world over, and heavyweight defense contractors like Northrop Grumman devoting a large portion of their overall R&D programs to unmanned aerial vehicles, it’s easy to see that the future of military aviation will be largely unmanned. The benefits of such a transition are extensive, […]

Russia looks to jump into combat drones with their 20-ton ‘Hunter’ UCAV

As SOFREP has discussed in the past, Russia’s limited defense budget has forced them to adopt a unique strategy when it comes to new weapons development. Instead of looking to compete with the military might of the United States directly in every category, they have opted to invest heavily into specific programs that seem as […]

Image of China’s long rumored ‘stealth drone’ surfaces on Chinese internet

For around a decade, rumors have swirled about China’s advanced unmanned combat air vehicle (UCAV) with the most-metal of names, the Dark Sword. It’s been no secret that the Dark Sword has been in development, but for the most part, that development has been slow going. Artist’s renderings, scale models, and a whole lot of […]

Despite touting advanced missiles, Russia’s drone program lags behind competitors

The United States has been among the most proficient adopters of drone technology for the battlefield of any national level military. The CIA was using drones for surveillance over conflict ridden areas as far back as the year 2000, and racked up the nation’s first confirmed kill with an unmanned aircraft only two years later, […]

Watch: Marines skip the runway, snatch their drones out of midair

The introduction of drones has led to a number of shifts in the way America’s military conducts both combat and reconnaissance operations.  Drones like the MQ-1 Predator and the MQ-9 Reaper have demonstrated that large-scale drones, comparable in size to many aircraft already employed by the U.S. military, offer a real value to the war […]

Watch: US Military Releases Swarm of Micro-Drones from F/A-18

The US military recently tested a ‘swarm’ of over 100 Perdix micro-drones that were released in the skies over southern California by F-18 Hornets. The drones which are only 11.8 inches (30 cm) long communicate with each other via artificial intelligence and reportedly make decisions together. It is thought that the drones working together in […]