The 21st Century saw the introduction of a wholly new concept in combat aircraft, the UCAV (Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicle.)  First used with great success in the U.S.'s 2002 invasion of Afghanistan, these remote-controlled aircraft could perform a wide variety of military missions -- and cause extensive damage -- without endangering the lives of human pilots. 

Unfortunately, the plastic model industry was slow on kitting the experimental and operational UCAVs, leaving a vacuum that a handful of enterprising "garage kit" companies were more than eager to fill.

X-Planes & Prototypes

1900-1930

1940s

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2010s