These Are the 12 Most Expensive Military Drones in the World, One Costing Rp5.99 Trillion

The use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs or drones) has replaced some of the functions of conventional manned aircraft. Some military drones even surpass the capabilities of conventional military aircraft and are safer for reconnaissance missions.

Drones have been frequently used in open combat and for covert operations abroad. These unmanned aircraft allow for the operation of heavy weaponry from a distance. This means drones enable pilots to damage enemy defenses from a safe location.

These unmanned aircraft have also been used by military and intelligence agencies to gather information on enemy movements, conduct reconnaissance in open warfare, and are highly useful in targeted hunts.

The price of a military drone depends on its specifications and capabilities in penetrating enemy defenses. The most expensive drone, the Northrop Grumman X-47B, costs US$405 million, or approximately Rp5.99 trillion per unit at an exchange rate of Rp14,800 per US dollar.

The Northrop Grumman X-47B is an unmanned combat aerial vehicle developed by the American defense technology company Northrop Grumman.

The following are the prices of the most expensive military drones according to Survivalfreedom in 2022:

1. Northrop Grumman X-47B: US$405.00 million
2. Turkish Aerospace Anka: US$100.00 million
3. EADS Talarion: US$80.00 million
4. IAI Eitan: US$35.00 million
5. MQ-9 Reaper: US$32.00 million
6. Dassault nEuron: US$25.00 million
7. Thales Watchkeeper WK450: US$16.00 million
8. MQ-8 Fire Scout: US$15.00 million
9. Boeing A160 Hummingbird: US$6.00 million
10. Kratos XQ-58 Valkyrie: US$3.00 million
11. Chengdu Pterodactyl I: US$1.00 million
12. Insitu ScanEagle: US$0.80 million