The drone's sting.(Drones: Armament)

Some projected combat drones are already being designed to carry two 900 kg class bombs, but most ordnance applied to unmanned air vehicles in the near term will be relatively lightweight guided weapons and smart submunitions. If weaponised drones are to fulfil their potential in carrying out the most dangerous defence suppression missions, we may well see small new anti-radiation missiles designed specifically for multiple internal carriage on stealthy platforms.

Drones have come a long way from early lightweight radio-controlled model aeroplanes, a prime example being