Deadliest Drones of 2025: From Kamikaze to MQ9 Reaper & Bayraktar | The Weapon Changing FACE of War - video Dailymotion

Oneindia

Explore how unmanned aerial systems are reshaping conflict in this in-depth look at the deadliest drones of 2025. The video examines the evolution of combat drones, their strategic roles, and why they have become central to modern warfare. From long-endurance surveillance platforms to precision strike systems, we analyze capabilities, trends, and implications for global security—offering a clear, objective overview of how drone technology is influencing today’s battlefields.    #Drones2025 #ModernWarfare #MilitaryTechnology #CombatDrones #DefenseAnalysis #FutureOfWar #UnmannedSystems #AerialWarfare #GlobalSecurity #DefenseTrends #WarTechnology #MilitaryInnovation #DroneWarfare #StrategicStudies #SecurityStudies #DefenseReview #TechInWar #BattlefieldTech #MilitaryDrones #WarAnalysis  ~ED.103~HT.408~

Transcript

00:002025 has emerged as one of the most violent years in recent history.

00:25With multiple wars reshaping the global security landscape,

00:30from the Russia-Ukraine conflict in Europe,

00:32to the Iran-Israel confrontation in the Middle East,

00:36and from the India-Pakistan clashes in May,

00:39to renewed fighting between Thailand and Cambodia in Southeast Asia,

00:43warfare has spread across continents.

00:48In this new era of combat,

00:50traditional weapons like tanks and heavy artillery

00:53have been eclipsed by drones and precision missiles.

00:57Unmanned aerial systems have become the decisive force on the battlefield.

01:04Used for surveillance, targeted strikes, and mass destruction,

01:09from Eastern Europe to South Asia,

01:11drones have inflicted unprecedented damage

01:14and altered the course of conflicts.

01:17This report takes a closer look at the top five deadliest drones of 2025,

01:23ranked by their battlefield impact.

01:34At number five is China's Kaig Winglong II,

01:39a medium-altitude, long-endurance combat drone,

01:43often described as Beijing's answer to the American MQ-9 Reaper.

01:48In 2025, the Winglong II continued to play a quiet but significant role

01:54across multiple conflict zones.

01:57Saudi Arabia and the UAE used it in operations against Houthi forces in Yemen.

02:05While African nations increasingly turned to it for counterinsurgency missions,

02:10the Democratic Republic of Congo began negotiations to acquire the drone

02:14to combat M-23 rebels after losing territory.

02:21Armed with guided bombs and missiles,

02:23the Winglong II offers affordable strike capability

02:26to nations unable to access Western drones.

02:29However, it remains vulnerable in contested airspace,

02:33limiting its effectiveness against advanced air defenses.

02:37At number four is Turkey's iconic Bayraktar TB-2,

02:46a drone that once changed the face of modern warfare

02:49and refused to disappear in 2025.

02:52Though less dominant than in earlier years,

02:55the TB-2 made a tactical comeback in Ukraine,

02:58particularly in the Black Sea region.

03:01Ukrainian forces used it to strike Russian fast attack boats and logistical assets,

03:06including a deadly September strike that killed seven Russian troops.

03:11Beyond Ukraine, the TB-2 remained active in Sudan, parts of Africa and the Middle East.

03:17New upgrades, AI-assisted autonomy and satellite communications,

03:21helped it survive longer against electronic warfare.

03:26With exports spanning Europe, Africa and Asia,

03:29the TB-2 continues to prove the power of cost-effective precision.

03:36At number three is the MQ-9 Reaper, the backbone of American drone warfare.

03:42In 2025, the Reaper played a critical role in U.S. operations across the Middle East,

03:48particularly against Houthi forces disrupting Red Sea shipping.

03:52Its strength lies in persistent surveillance, tracking targets for hours

03:57before launching precision strikes with Hellfire missiles.

04:00But its year also exposed its weaknesses.

04:06Houthis successfully shot down more than 20 Reapers using surface-to-air missiles,

04:11costing the U.S. over $700 million.

04:14Despite losses, the MQ-9 remains unmatched in intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance,

04:21especially in asymmetric warfare.

04:23At number two is the Shahhead-136, known in Russia as the Garan-2.

04:32The drone that turned the skies into a war of attrition.

04:36Cheap, long-range, and mass-produced, the Shahhead became the backbone of Russia's drone campaign in 2025.

04:43Moscow launched massive swarms, sometimes hundreds in a single night, to overwhelm Ukrainian air defenses

04:53and strike power grids, cities, and military sites. Upgrades made the drone deadlier.

04:59Heavier warheads, AI guidance, satellite navigation, and stealth coatings for night attacks.

05:05While interception rates varied, the real impact came from volume, forcing defenders to spend

05:12expensive missiles on cheap drones. Variants were also used by Houthis and Iranian proxies across the Middle East.

05:23At number one, the most deadly drone of 2025 is not a single model, but a category. Kamikaze FPV drones.

05:33Costing as little as $400 to $500, these first-person-view suicide drones revolutionized warfare.

05:41Armed with explosives and guided by operators wearing VR headsets, FPVs destroyed tanks, artillery,

05:48bunkers, and infantry with pinpoint accuracy. In Ukraine, FPV drones accounted for up to 80% of

05:56battlefield casualties. Small units used them to destroy million-dollar assets, completely reshaping

06:03military tactics. Traditional artillery took a back seat as drone swarms dominated the front lines.

06:23The true power of FPV drones was revealed in Operation Spiderweb. On June 1, 2025, Ukraine's security service

06:32launched a covert drone strike deep inside Russia, using Osa Wasp quadcopters hidden inside trucks.

06:40From Russian territory, 117 drones attacked five major air bases across five time zones. Around 20 Russian

06:48military aircraft were hit, with at least 10 destroyed. The strike reached as far as eastern Siberia,

06:55over 4,300 kilometers from Ukraine, making it the deepest drone attack of the war. Operation Spiderweb proved

07:03one thing beyond doubt. Cheap drones can cripple strategic air power, bypass borders, and redefine modern warfare.

07:11In 2025, drones didn't just support wars, they shaped them. From mass-produced kamikaze drones to long-range strike

07:23systems, unmanned warfare has rewritten the rules of combat. And as Operation Spiderweb showed the world,

07:30the deadliest weapons of the future may not be the biggest, but the smartest, cheapest, and hardest to stop.

07:37Subscribe to OneIndia and never miss an update. Download the OneIndia app now.

Deadliest Drones of 2025: From Kamikaze to MQ9 Reaper & Bayraktar | The Weapon Changing FACE of War

Category

Transcript

Be the first to comment

Recommended