Drones, autonomous weapons and AI are changing the art of war faster than at any point in history. We’ve investigated the latest: from tiny loitering bombs to huge underwater vehicles.
Some have demonstrated success in real battlefield situations. Others simply offer hints about the future of warfare. Here’s a countdown of 20 of the most important systems to know right now.
#20 — OW5 / LY-1 (China) — Directed-energy air-defense system
This Chinese mobile laser system is built to knock down drones and other flying threats. It is not a bomb or a bullet, but it fits into the same fight against small aircraft. It shows how laser weapons are becoming a real tool in modern air defense.
#19 — T38 Devil Ray (United States) — Unmanned surface vessel
The T38 Devil Ray is a U.S. sea drone used for testing new naval ideas, including carrying small strike weapons. It matters because it shows how the Navy wants to spread out sensors and weapons across many small, uncrewed boats instead of a few big ships.
#18 — Ushkuynik KVN (Russia) — Loitering munition
This is one of many low-cost Russian strike drones now in service. It stands out because it shows Russia is not relying on just one drone line. Instead, the country is building several cheap loitering munitions at the same time.
#17 — WS-43 (China) — Loitering munition
The WS-43 is part of China’s growing family of small strike drones. It fits into a bigger trend where China is mixing mass production, swarm ideas, and precision hits. It is less about one star weapon and more about building drones in huge numbers.
#16 — Marauder (United States) — Autonomous maritime drone
The Marauder is a U.S. sea drone built for future naval missions, possibly including attacks. It stands for the U.S. push toward flexible, uncrewed boats that can scout, carry cargo, or launch weapons depending on the mission.
#15 — Angel Spire (Ukraine) — Kinetic interceptor drone
