Spies that Fly

It has no pilot no windows and it s flown by remote control. But this odd-looking plane is already credited with helping destroy nearly 750 enemy targets. It s the Predator an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) equipped with powerful surveillance cameras that spy on our enemies day or night and keep our military personnel out of harm s way. The Predator is changing America s battle plans and more advanced UAVs are close behind.From flying spies the size of a CD player to fully armed pilotless jets that roam halfway around the world get a close look at the revolutionary UAVs from the past 50 years including the Lightning Bug Pioneer and Predator. Follow military specialists scientists and engineers as they examine some of the revolutionary vehicles currently under development such as the Global Hawk a long endurance jet programmed to fly itself from takeoff to landing.Join NOVA for this rare look at some of the most significant developments in military weaponry and learn about the UAV s dangerous and costly history how flying insects are helping researchers create the first micro UAV and how the military s unmanned aerial vehicles may someday lead to pilotless commercial air travel.