Birds of Prey: America’s Newest Unmanned Aerial Vehicles in Combat

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Remotely piloted vehicles are one of the most exciting subjects in military aviation today
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Details of latest technology in remotely piloted aircraft
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Tells of how U.S. unmanned aerial vehicles have been used to destroy more than half of Al Qaeda's top leadership
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Includes the latest photos of UAV pilots in Nevada flying Predator and Reaper attack drones
Although primitive unmanned TV-guided airplanes were used in combat during World War II, it is only recently that these machines have matured into the most significant new method of aerial combat since the beginning of contemporary warfare. The fact that onboard human pilots are no longer needed for these aircraft to carry out their deadly missions is fascinating for military enthusiasts and aviation historians alike.
These remotely piloted vehicles are now re-writing the book on modern aerial surveillance and close air support. Delivering their lethal payloads with surgical precision, propeller-driven and jet-powered remotely piloted aircraft are guided by satellite, and flown by human operators located halfway around the world in air-conditioned trailers, isolated from the hostile combat environment of the aircraft themselves. While this book also covers the history and development of early-unmanned aerial vehicles, the focus is on all the latest impressive technology used in today's most modern remotely piloted combat aircraft.