EPRS_BRI_2025_772885_EN.pdf — page 3

Military drones 
3 
the ability of drones to combine surveillance and strike capabilities at a relatively low cost has 
made them indispensable. Countries across Europe and beyond, including the EU, are closely 
observing and learning from Ukraine's experience to refine their own strategies. 
Definitions and types of drones 
Unmanned aircraft, commonly known as drones, are described using various terms such as 
unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), remotely piloted aircraft systems (RPAS), and unmanned aircraft 
systems (UAS). While these terms broadly describe the same concept, they highlight different 
components. For example, an unmanned aircraft refers to any aircraft that operates without a pilot 
on board, whereas an RPAS includes additional elements such as a remote pilot station and 
command-and-control functions. A UAS, as a complete system, consists not only of the unmanned 
aircraft itself but also a ground-based controller and a communication platform. Another category 
within the drone family are the lethal autonomous weapons systems (LAWS), sometimes 
controversially labelled as 'killer robots'. Although all the above are often grouped under the 
umbrella term 'armed drones', a key distinction exists: armed drones allow human intervention while 
LAWS operate entirely autonomously. While drones technically fit within the broader definition of 
'robots', this term extends beyond unmanned aircraft to include a wide range of industrial 
applications. Moreover, although drones are most commonly associated with aviation, they are also 
used for land and maritime operations. Drones have both military and civilian uses (see Figure 1).  
In military contexts, the term 
'drone' has traditionally been used 
to refer to remotely controlled 
aircraft used for gunnery practice. 
However, 
the 
definition 
has 
expanded significantly in recent 
years to include a wide range of 
devices, 
from 
inexpensive, 
weaponised 
recreational 
multicopters to sophisticated, jet-
sized uncrewed aircraft designed 
for intelligence, surveillance and 
reconnaissance (ISR), some of 
which cost millions.  
The rapid proliferation of drones 
is particularly evident in the 
conflict in Ukraine, where both 
sides deploy thousands of drones 
of various sizes and types daily. 
While aerial drones (UAVs) are 
the most common, maritime 
drones have made a significant 
impact in the Black Sea, and land 
drones (uncrewed ground vehicles – UGVs) are increasingly appearing on the battlefield. Drones 
can be armed or unarmed, deployed for ISR or direct action, and either recoverable or designed 
as one-way-attack (OWA) drones that self-destruct upon impact. Some drones are remotely 
piloted using first-person view (FPV) goggles, while others are programmed as loitering munitions 
to autonomously seek out pre-designated targets. A growing trend in drone warfare is the treatment 
of certain OWA drones as expendable munitions, like artillery shells, while others function more like 
cruise missiles. Additionally, new and niche applications are emerging, including drone-based mine 
deployment, aerial combat through direct collision, and even UAVs equipped to breathe fire. The 
evolving roles of drones in modern warfare underscore the increasing complexity of their use and 
their expanding presence across various domains. 
Figure 1 – Most common drone uses 
 
Source: EPRS briefing, 2019.