The remote-controlled prototype, now under construction by helicopter manufacturer Pia­secki Aircraft and defense giant Lockheed Martin, relies on two massive, articulating ducted fans for lift and forward thrust in flight, much like the tilt-rotor Osprey used by the Marines. If all goes as planned, a fully autonomous production version is next, capable of carrying up to 3,000 pounds and forever changing the art of warfare.

Ares Combat Drone

**Weight: **about 7,000 lbs. **Payload: **3,000 lbs. **Wingspan: **42 feet **Range: **250 nautical miles **Top speed: **230 mph This article originally appeared in the July 2014 issue of Popular Science.