History Main / AttackDrone

** For example, [[http://www.weregeek.com/2008/03/14/ Twitch]] from ''Webcomic/{{Weregeek}}''. And [[http://www.weregeek.com/2008/03/28/ her drones]] (''that's'' in character for Twitch).

** ''Anime/GundamBuildDivers'' has the AGEII Magnum and its F Funnels, which are based off of the AGE-FX's C Funnels. When its builder, Kyoya Kujo, updates the AGEII Magnum into the AGE-2 Magnum SV ver., he adds in two [=SigMaxiss=] Funnels, large drones armed with the AGE-3 Orbital's [=SigMaxiss=] Long Cannon and can double as extra thrusters.

*** The Gundam Aerial's control over the technology, [[PowerLevels indicated in-series by a "Permet Score" metric]], is ''far'' beyond any other suit, to the point of [[spoiler:disabling or ''hijacking'' other Gundam's drones]]. These abilities are all [[spoiler:because Aerial is PoweredByAForsakenChild]]. The Aerial is also notable for being the first initial lead Gundam in a TV series that is equipped with bit/funnel-type weaponry. Before that, these weapons are usually reserved for MidSeasonUpgrade or endgame units. The Aerial also retained the GUND-BITS upon being upgraded into its Rebuild version, but they can combine with its beam rifle a la 00 Qan[T]'s GN Buster Rifle.

*** The Gundam Lfrith, and its successor, the Gundam Aerial, utilize "bit staves", which can combine together to form a shield on top of functioning as normal attack drones, or act as enhancements for Aerial's weapons. Aerial's drones show an abnormal level of control, to the point of even protecting each other in combat, and are implied to have a degree of intelligence. The Lfrith is shown to be an advancement of earlier designs in the prologue that lacked the laser-shooting bit staves in favor of what were essentially remote-controlled mines.\\
Aerial's control over the technology, [[PowerLevels indicated in-series by a "Permet Score" metric]], is ''far'' beyond any other suit, to the point of [[spoiler:disabling or ''hijacking'' other Gundam's drones]]. These abilities are all [[spoiler:because Aerial is PoweredByAForsakenChild.]]\\
The Aerial is also notable for being the first initial lead Gundam in a TV series that is equipped with bit/funnel-type weaponry. Before that, these weapons are usually reserved for MidSeasonUpgrade or endgame units.

** Since about August-September 2022, Russians make massive use of drones from UsefulNotes/{{Iran}}, most notably the unexpensive loitering munition ("kamikaze") drone Shahed-136, mainly targeting Ukrainian infrastructures with them.

Not to be confused with [[DroneOfDread Drone music]] or ''VideoGame/DroneTactics''. Compare AttackAnimal (which might overlap if the drone is intelligent enough to act on instructions, rather than direct control). Contrast OrbitingParticleShield. Might be deployed by the, well, DroneDeployer, or by an EnemySummoner, if they summon the drones via FunctionalMagic. See alsoSurveillanceDrone.

Not to be confused with [[DroneOfDread Drone music]] or ''VideoGame/DroneTactics''. Compare AttackAnimal (which might overlap if the drone is intelligent enough to act on instructions, rather than direct control). Contrast OrbitingParticleShield. Might be deployed by the, well, DroneDeployer. Or EnemySummoner, if they summon the drones via FunctionalMagic.

*** The Gundvolvas basically revisit G-Bits from ''Gundam X''--full-sized MechaMooks separate from and controlled by Gundams. The Gundnodes are similar but for an additional purposes of extending the range of the GUND Format's FieldPowerEffect.

*** The Gundvolvas basically revisit G-Bits from ''Gundam X''--full-sized MechaMooks separate from and controlled by Gundams.

** ''Anime/MobileSuitGundamTheWitchFromMercury'' makes attack drones far more central to the plot than most shows. Similarly to how UC works made bits and funnels into technology only Newtypes could control, it treats the use of them as exclusive to the GUND Format, originally a form of prosthesis. "Gundam" in this continuity specifically refers to mobile suits using the format and thus using drones. Though the technology allows a pilot to control a large number of drones by [[BrainComputerInterface interfacing their body to the suit itself]], [[DeadlyUpgrade it risks a backlash that can harm or outright kill the user]], and is consequently banned--leading to complications when the protagonist's suit, the Aerial, shows up having [[OneHeroHoldTheWeaksauce somehow seemingly solved the weakness]].

*** After a MidSeasonUpgrade, Guel's Daribalde has four beam saber drones that nest on its back. They presumably don't need the GUND Format because their movements are simple and they're kept at extremely short range, acting more like FloatingLimbs than independent machines. [[spoiler:Aerial could still take them over.]]

** By far the most prevalent attack drone in the series is Mr. Zurkon. Being first introduced as a device in ''Tools of Destruction, Mr. Zurkon is a small robot with a gun for an arm who hands out both death and [[IShallTauntYou hammy insults]] to the enemy. Later installments would up the ante by giving him a [[ChargedAttack charge shot]], rapidfire, allowing [[CombinationAttack multiple Zurkons to work in tandem]], and [[RoboFamily a wife and kid]] that are just as bloodthirsty as he is.

** In addition to facing Drek's Zurkons as they did in the movie, the [[[[VideoGame/RatchetAndClank2016 2016 reimagining of the first game]] pits Ratchet up against a [[{{Robeast}} giant Mrs. Zurkon]] boss in the warbot factory on Quartu. It also comes equip with a bunch of regular Zurkons to deploy during the fight, making it a rare example of an attack drone having attack drones of its own.

** A tool in ''VideoGame/RatchetAndClank2002'' allows the hero to enlist the help of a Sand Mouse who hovers around Ratchet and attacks enemies with a tiny, yet surprisingly powerful, machinegun.
** ''VideoGame/RatchetAndClankGoingCommando'' has Synthenoids, which float above Ratchet and fire at anything within range.
** ''VideoGame/RatchetAndClankUpYourArsenal'' gives Ratchet tiny robots that he could deploy for the same purpose.
** ''VideoGame/RatchetDeadlocked'' gives Ratchet two permanent bots that were a big part of the story and gameplay and could even be customized and upgraded just like Ratchet.
** In addition to the Sand Mice, the Agents of Doom deployed by the Glove of Doom weapon and the defense drones activated by the Drone Device (also called the Drone Glove) fall under this trope.

** ''VideoGame/RatchetAndClankFutureToolsOfDestruction'' and ''VideoGame/RatchetAndClankFutureACrackInTime'' have Mr. Zurkon, who hands out both death and [[IShallTauntYou hammy insults]] to the enemy.

* ''ComicBook/JusticeSocietyOfAmerica'': The T-Spheres used by Mister Terrific.

[[caption-width-right:350:[[Film/TheMatrix "Never send a human to do a machine's job."]]]]

* In ''Fanfic/ThePriceOfFlight'', the Ankh-Morpork City Air Watch experiment with un-womanned broomsticks carrying both magical spells and conventional explosives, designed to get high up and explode, for arguments' sake, in the middle of a formation of Klatchian magic carpets that might be invading or bombing the City. This was born out of a potentially calamitous test flight of a vertical take-off interceptor broom called the ME-163 Komet - the pilot parachuted out just before the broom, overloaded with magical energy, exploded. Elsewhere, remotely controlled magic carpets are used as target drones to practice air combat and air-to-air shooting.

** ''VideoGame/XCOMEnemyUnknown'' gives you the Super Heavy Infantry Vehicle, or SHIV: robotic mini-tanks that can be armed with a [[GatlingGood gatling gun]], laser cannon, or plasma cannon. Other upgrades can give them the ability to [[PinnedDown suppress enemies]], act as mobile cover for your soldiers, or fly.
** ''VideoGame/XCom2'' has [=SPARKs=], which are 8-foot-tall humanoid robots that appear to act as MEC Troopers from the first game but are fully mechanical. Unlike [=SHIVs=], a SPARK can earn XP for kills and advance in rank. Unlike organic soldiers, though, you can't purchase alternative abilities using Ability Points. You can even customize their appearance and even give them [[Film/ShortCircuit Johnny 5]]'s head.

*** Gundvolvas basically revisit G-Bits from ''Gundam X''--full-sized MechaMooks separate from and controlled by Gundams.

*** Gundvolvas basically revisits G-Bits from ''Gundam X''--full-sized MechaMooks separate from and controlled by Gundams.

** ''[[Anime/AfterWarGundamX Gundam X]]'' has standard bits, but also has bit mobile suits, psychically-controlled MechaMooks.

** ''Anime/MobileSuitGundamTheWitchFromMercury'' makes attack drones far more central to the plot than most shows. Similarly to how UC works made bits and funnels into technology only Newtypes could control, it treats the use of them as exclusive to the GUND Format, originally a form of prosthesis. "Gundam" in this continuity specifically refers to mobile suits using the format and thus using drones. Though the technology allows a pilot to control a large number of drones by interfacing their body to the suit itself, [[DeadlyUpgrade it risks a backlash that can harm or outright kill the user]], and is consequently banned--leading to complications when the protagonist's suit, the Aerial, shows up having [[OneHeroHoldTheWeaksauce somehow seemingly solved the weakness]].
*** The Gundam Lfrith, and its successor, the Gundam Aerial, utilize "bit staves", which can combine together to form a shield on top of functioning as normal attack drones, or act as enhancements for Aerial's weapons. Aerial's drones show an abnormal level of control, to the point of even protecting each other in combat, and are implied to have a degree of intelligence. The Lfrith is shown to be an advancement of earlier designs in the prologue that lacked the laser-shooting bit staves in favor of what were essentially remote-controlled mines.
*** The Aerial is also notable for being the first initial lead Gundam in a TV series that is equipped with bit/funnel-type weaponry. Before that, these weapons are usually reserved for MidSeasonUpgrade or endgame units.

* Misteltoes serve this purpose in ''VideoGame/{{Hellsinker}}'' for the player characters and bosses, though some enemies also use them as ammo. This would be normal were Misteltoes not [[WhatDoYouMeanItWasntMadeOnDrugs topless fairies with half of a crystal ball instead of a lower body]].

*** The Pharact is the first Gundam not made by Ochs Earth or Peil, and has a very different approach: rather than the typical BeamSpam that characterizes drone-using suits, its drones can generate electromagnetic "stun beams" that briefly short out the technology of whatever they strike, allowing the Pharact to finish off disabled targets with its rifle.

** ''Anime/MobileSuitGundamTheWitchFromMercury'' makes attack drones far more central to the plot than most shows. Similarly to how UC works made bits and funnels into technology only Newtypes could control, it treats the use of them as exclusive to the GUND Format, originally a form of prosthesis. Though the technology allows a pilot to control a large number of drones by interfacing their body to the suit itself, [[DeadlyUpgrade it risks a backlash that can harm or outright kill the user]], and is consequently banned--leading to complications when the protagonist's suit, the Aerial, shows up having [[OneHeroHoldTheWeaksauce somehow seemingly solved the weakness]].

*** The original ''Anime/MobileSuitGundam'' novel puts a twist on this with the Elmeth. While the anime version just has standard beam gun-equipped bits, the novel version has some which are essentially psychically guided [[NukeEm nuclear missiles]].