The Predator and Reaper drones in most common use by the CIA and U.S. military carry 500-pound GPS-guided bombs or Hellfire missiles. The bombs can destroy whole neighborhoods, while Hellfire missiles are designed to explode afterhitting their target, spewing shrapnel and “incendiary pellets” to “ensure target destruction.”
10,000+
Weaponized drones in the U.S. arsenal
493 to 527
Covert drone strikes by CIA and the U.S. military in Pakistan, Yemen, and Somalia (2002-13)
3,057 to 4,338
Estimated total deaths by covert drone strikes
197 to 207
Children reported killed in covert strikes
Sources: Defense Update;General Dynamics; The Guardian;The Bureau of Investigative Journalism.
Got something to say about what you're reading? We value your feedback!