This title explores the development and use of unmanned aerial vehicles, or remotely piloted aircraft, more commonly known as drones. Readers will follow the history of the origins and development of the incredible military technology behind UAVs such as the Predator Drone, the Wasp Micro-Air Vehicle, the Global Hawk unmanned aerial vehicle, the hand-launched remote control RQ-11 Raven for field troops, and the long-endurance hunter-killer MQ-9 Reaper. Chapters detail their military and performance specifications as well as their features and advantages in the field (including their cameras, sensors, control systems, and weapons) and their pilots (often sitting on the other side of the world). Readers will also learn about their use in significant combat and surveillance missions throughout the Middle East and in other countries. Includes spec boxes and other text features. Aligned to Common Core Standards and correlated to state standards. A&D Xtreme is an imprint of Abdo Publishing, a division of ABDO.