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.

BOEING X-45A UCAV (2001)

X-43A SCRAMJET (2003)

X-Planes & Prototypes

1900-1930

1940s

1950s

1960s

1970s

1980s

1990s

2000 and Beyond