United States:
The United States has always been at the world's advanced level in the development of drones. The number of models and types is the largest in the world. At present, the world is mainly concerned about the Cormorant, a new type of drone that can be launched from a submarine, developed by Lockheed Martin's "Skunk Works" in the United States. The aircraft has an overall length of 5.8 meters, a wingspan of 4.86 meters, and a take-off weight of slightly more than 4 tons, including a payload of 453 kilograms. The air inlet of the machine is located at the nose of the machine and is shaped like a triangle. At the same time, because the fuselage is made of titanium alloy, its body is extremely strong and can withstand pressure equivalent to a water depth of 50 meters. In order to increase the concealment of flight, the shape of the "Cormorant" drone also adopts a stealth design. The "Cormorant" is expected to have a maximum flight speed of 880 kilometers/hour, a cruising speed of 550 kilometers/hour, a maximum flight altitude of 10.7 kilometers, a combat radius of 926 kilometers, and a sustainable flight of 3 hours. It can be equipped with short-range weapons and reconnaissance equipment and is used by the U.S. Navy's "Ohio" class nuclear submarines.
"Cormorant" is an exploratory direction for the development of U.S. drone tactics. If the development of the "Cormorant" goes well, the U.S. Navy can equip the "Cormorant" drone as early as 2010.
At the same time, the US military is developing a new generation of high-altitude and high-speed reconnaissance aircraft SR-72 "Black Swift". This new type of reconnaissance aircraft is the successor of the famous SR-71 "Blackbird" high-altitude reconnaissance aircraft, but it flies faster, with a maximum speed of more than 5 times the speed of sound. In addition, the SR-72 also has stealth capabilities and extremely long range endurance, which can meet the needs of global reconnaissance. It will monitor the world together with the U.S. U-2 high-altitude reconnaissance aircraft, "Global Hawk" strategic unmanned reconnaissance aircraft and reconnaissance satellite systems. It is also an important part of the U.S. global rapid strike plan. High-altitude reconnaissance aircraft fly over reconnaissance targets with their complete photographic equipment and take high-resolution ground pictures, which is of great military significance. Because high-altitude reconnaissance aircraft fly higher than most fighter jets and anti-aircraft missiles, and fly faster than missiles, they are rarely hit. Currently, only the United States has dedicated high-altitude strategic reconnaissance aircraft in the world.
Israel:
The Israeli Air Force has always been the leader in the use of drones in combat. Drones first played a decisive role in the war during the Battle of the Bekaa Valley in 1982. During the war, Israel used its own self-developed scout drone as a bait to enter the sky above the Bekaa Valley to lure Syria's Sam- 6 anti-aircraft missiles were fired, and many parameters of the SA-6 missile radar were measured at the same time. Based on these parameters, radio suppression of the Syrian air defense positions was carried out, and the results were one-sided. The Battle of the Bekaa Valley can be said to be the first demonstration of the role of drones in modern warfare.
Currently, the Israeli Air Force is receiving more attention from the Heron TP drone (called "Etan" by the Israeli Air Force) developed by Israel Airlines. It is currently the largest drone in the world. The wingspan size of this model is the same as that of the Boeing 737 passenger aircraft produced by the American Boeing Company. The fuselage is 14 meters long and the wingspan reaches 26 meters.