Databases of Small and Very Small UAVs and Missiles

Dataset description

Based on databases, scientific and internet publications, this dataset lists small armed UAVs and missiles deployed and used worldwide, as well as systems under research and development, with their properties. Non-armed UAVs are included to investigate the global usage of small UAVs and thus overall interest in smaller systems. This comprises non-armed systems which could be provided with or used as weapons.

The two datasets list properties of small and very small UAVs below 2 m size (wingspan, length and rotor diameter) and of missiles with diameters below 69 mm. Currently (Version 2.0) the datasets are comprised of 152 UAVs and 50 missiles, respectively.

In order to minimise a contribution to proliferation of these systems, only public sources were investigated, i.e. the internet as well as publicly available databases and catalogues. Furthermore, where information is incomplete, no estimates based on the laws of physics or stemming from engineering expertise are given. Improvised or modified versions of UAVs or missiles, already in use by non-state actors, are left out for the same reason.

As far as has been available, for UAVs the basic properties with the year of introduction are listed to allow statements on trends of UAV capabilities in recent years. Due to the sheer number of UAV types available today, we focused mainly on UAVs intended to fulfil military roles, such as reconnaissance or combat. An exception are UAVs that fall under the very small (<0.2 m) category. There, most UAVs are still in the research or development stages and not in military service nor designed for military use. However, research and development (R&D) of some systems had been funded originally by military institutions. In any case, these projects are important indicators of the future potential of these small-sized aircraft.

Project Webpage

The datasets are a part of the research project "Preventive Arms Control for Small and Very Small Aircraft and Missiles" of TU Dortmund University.  The project has been funded by the German Foundation for Peace Research (DSF, https://bundesstiftung-friedensforschung.de/) in its funding line "New Technologies: Risks and Chances for International Security and Peace".

For a full description of this project, visit https://url.tu-dortmund.de/pacsam.