The Predator had an unconventional and rapid development cycle unusual in modern American military aircraft, with origins going back to a garage project by Israeli emigrant Abraham Karem. By 1983, he had developed a small long-endurance tactical reconnaissance UAV prototype called the Albatross for the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA). Five years later, further development had resulted in a more advanced design, the Amber, which was followed by the GNAT 750, a production-worthy design. Karem’s company and the GNAT 750 were soon acquired by General Atomics.

Tasersnear me

The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) operated the GNAT 750 in operations over Bosnia and Herzegovina in 1993 and 1994. The program suffered from several technical issues, but it held enough promise that the Department of Defense expressed interest in a larger, more capable enhanced version of the GNAT 750 for medium-altitude tactical reconnaissance, soon designated RQ-1 Predator. By 1995, it too was operating over Bosnia and Herzegovina.

In Canada, tasers are illegal for civilians to carry as self-defense weapons and are classified as "prohibited weapons." Tasers can only be used by law enforcement for self-defense and crowd control because there are many concerns about the potential harm they can cause when they’re used improperly.

TASER self defense

Given the small number of strikes made by Predators compared to manned aircraft, the impact was enormous. Its success in locating top enemy leaders made it a favorite tool of national security advisors and military commanders alike. In April 2001, the U.S. military had only 90 non–target drone UAVs in service, 75 of which were small battlefield observation types: the RQ-2 Pioneer and the RQ-7 Shadow. The other 15 were Predators. Four years later, the number had tripled. Ten years after that, the U.S. military had nearly 11,000 UAVs on inventory. The Predator alone does not account for this increase, but it unquestionably established the potential of the UAV to shape the battlefield and geopolitics in ways that no aircraft, manned or unmanned, had done before.

You may be tempted to carry one in your handbag, but personal stun guns are illegal in Canada, and if you possess one, this is considered a criminal offense and possession of a weapon.

General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. MQ-1L Predator A: The Predator is capable of both reconnaissance and attack missions. It has been used in the Balkans, Afghanistan, Iraq and other global locations. The U.S. Air Force Predator displayed flew 196 combat missions in the skies of Afghanistan and was one of the first three UAVs to fly operational missions there after the 9/11 terrorist attacks. The Predator is currently on display at the National Air and Space Museum.

Sometimes the term “stun gun” and “taser” gets used interchangeably because they’re both conducted-energy weapons, but let’s break down the many differences.

Stun guns are for close range combat and have metal prongs at the top of the device. They are block-shaped like an electric shaver, but you can find them concealed in the form of a torch, phone or flashlight.

Taser gun

Stun guns can only be used by police officers who use them as a non-lethal alternative to firearms. The RCMP are permitted to use stun guns in situations where they feel under threat (according to the Canadian Criminal Code Section 85) and where all other options have been exhausted. This includes verbal communication and empty-hand control techniques, which is a fancy way of saying all techniques that don’t involve any kind of weapon.

Previously, military strikes consisted of fast jet pilots arriving over a chaotic scene with little time to understand the situation, releasing heavy ordnance, and then quickly departing. Accuracy in such engagements could be problematic, particularly with terrorists or insurgents who blended with the local populace. Instead, with the ability to remain airborne for up to 40 hours (though operational missions rarely go much beyond 20), Predator pilots and sensor operators could understand the ground situation far more clearly than in any previous aerial platform. The Hellfire missile, while powerful, also has a narrow blast effect, which made possible precision strikes that were impossible from manned aircraft. At a typical operating altitude of 15,000 feet above the terrain, the Predator was silent and invisible to those on the ground (though not stealthy to radar).

Canada categorizes weapons into “prohibited” and “unprohibited weapons.” And both stun guns and tasers are considered prohibited weapons.

By 2000, concern over the rising threat of the al Qaeda terrorist organization and its leader, Osama bin Laden, encouraged Big Safari to accelerate the schedule for arming the Predator with the AGM-114 Hellfire laser-guided missile, originally developed for antitank helicopters. While Big Safari continued development in the United States, it also secretly operated several Predators from a base in Uzbekistan with the CIA during the summer and fall of 2000 to locate Osama bin Laden in Afghanistan.

The target is struck by the darts, which deliver electricity through the wires, disrupting the neuromuscular system and rendering the target temporarily paralyzed or if overused, potentially rendering them unconscious. The taser causes muscles to contract up to 19 times per second.

U.S. Air Force Predator production ended in 2011 with 268 airframes completed. Additional unarmed airframes were made available to U.S. allies, including the United Kingdom and Italy. The Army began development of a refined derivative, the MQ-1C Gray Eagle, which began operations in 2012. Even by the time of Operation Allied Force in 1999, the Air Force was aware that it needed a more capable and refined version of the Predator, so General Atomics began work on the “Predator B,” which entered operations in 2007 as the MQ-9 Reaper and slowly began replacing the Predator.

Your every day flashlight can be used as self-defense tool by shining it in an attacker's eyes to blind and disorient them. Flashlights are of course legal to carry in Canada, unlike many other self-defense tools. This means that you can have one on hand at all times in your bag without worrying about breaking the law.

The National Air and Space Museum acquired Predator number 3034 in 2004 on the basis of its pivotal role in introducing armed RPAS into combat.

A taser and a stun gun are similar in terms of the pain they cause to the attacker, but the taser has a greater ability to disrupt muscle movements and prevent an assailant from advancing towards you by paralyzing them. The effects of a taser last less than one hour. Stun gun effects are temporary and end once you stop pressing down the stun gun onto the attacker.

Taser for women

The inability of Predator and Reaper to operate in contested airspace with effective enemy air defenses highlights the advances required for RPAS to maintain their operational significance. Jamming poses a significant threat to the Predator’s data links and GPS navigation, so future systems require significant advances in artificial intelligence and inertial navigation as well as faster and stealthier airframes. Another challenge is cultural—who is a pilot? Initially, most RPAS pilots for the U.S. Air Force were experienced combat pilots, but demand soon exceeded supply and the military services began training non-pilot operators. This has created organizational frictions in the military over who has the privileges of pilot status in a world where unmanned and autonomous operations are increasingly important. Regardless, the Predator and subsequent RPAS have dramatically changed the strategy and tactics of limited war in the 21st century.

Today, the United States Air Force is retiring the Predator—a military unmanned aerial vehicle that was used in attacks against al Qaeda during the war on terrorism. The Museum’s Predator, on display at our building in Washington, DC, was one of the first three UAVs to fly operational missions over Afghanistan after September 11th. Here, we take a look at the history and impact of the Predator on military aerial combat.

However, if you intend to (and just happen to) be carrying bear spray and you just happen to use it if you get attacked by another person,

The Reaper and Predator are well-matched to the nature of the Global War on Terror. For the most part, they have operated against terrorists and insurgents who lack aircraft and air defenses. However, as operations in Iraq, Syria, and Kosovo have shown, they are extremely vulnerable when opposed by a capable enemy, as they are slow and cannot maneuver aggressively. In 2002, the Air Force even adapted a Predator to carry Stinger missiles and attempted an air-to-air engagement with an Iraqi MiG-25—a dogfight that resulted in the loss of the Predator.

Pocket taser

Are you worried about being physically overpowered? Wondering whether it’s legal to carry a taser or stun gun in Canada for self-defense?

The Air Force soon saw the Predator as an interim replacement for a shortfall in tactical reconnaissance aircraft with the added benefit of a live satellite video link. Authority for Predator development came under the 645th Aeronautical Systems Group, nicknamed “Big Safari,” which had responsibility for rapid development of reconnaissance systems outside conventional “mil-spec” airworthiness standards, resulting in a capable, but fragile, aircraft. In the late 1990s, Big Safari expanded the Predator’s capability to include a laser designator to illuminate targets and guide weapons dropped from other aircraft. In 1999, this system had its first significant test during Operation Allied Force in Kosovo.

Tasersfor sale

Using the stun gun for ½ a second causes a moment of pain. Zapping one to two seconds causes muscle spasms and confusion. A zap that’s longer than three seconds disorients and causes great temporary pain to the attacker.

GPS watches are your guardian angel. A fusion of fitness and protection, they're the jogger's trusted companion as they track your location real-time.

Stun gun vs Taser

We rely on the generous support of donors, sponsors, members, and other benefactors to share the history and impact of aviation and spaceflight, educate the public, and inspire future generations.  With your help, we can continue to preserve and safeguard the world’s most comprehensive collection of artifacts representing the great achievements of flight and space exploration.

In Canada, it's illegal to tell a policeman that you're carrying pepper spray for self-defense. But, you can carry dog spray to use against dogs, wildlife and (ahem) animals. Read our full guide on whether bear spray for self defense in Canada here.

General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. MQ-1L Predator A: The Predator is capable of both reconnaissance and attack missions. It has been used in the Balkans, Afghanistan, Iraq and other global locations. The U.S. Air Force Predator displayed flew 196 combat missions in the skies of Afghanistan and was one of the first three UAVs to fly operational missions there after the 9/11 terrorist attacks. The Predator is currently on display at the National Air and Space Museum.

Continuing concerns over the legality of targeting an individual like bin Laden with the armed Predator delayed further deployments to Uzbekistan through the summer of 2001. On September 11, just as Predator number 3034 was undergoing final trials before deployment, the worst-case al Qaeda attacks occurred in New York and Washington, D.C.

Stun guns can penetrate clothing due to the high voltage electric shock placed directly on the attacker's body, but very heavy clothing (like thick jackets) will reduce the shock’s effectiveness.

This new mode of warfare came with new problems. Because the Predator bypassed the normal procurement process and did not have to meet conventional military standards for ruggedness and reliability, it entered operations in something akin to a prototype phase of development. One concern was the “soda straw” effect of viewing the world through the tight focus of the camera lens and thus missing important nearby activity. This pushed investments in multiple camera array sensor systems that could monitor larger areas and use computer algorithms to highlight likely areas of concern, such as a vehicle driving in a certain manner or in the appearance of weapon system.

They give the attacker a very painful, high-voltage shock - the pain is temporary but it does not paralyze the entire body like a taser does. At approximately three milliamps, the charge is not strong enough to damage the target’s body unless you hold down the weapon for an excessively long period of time.

A security umbrella, on the surface, appears and functions like any regular umbrella, offering the typical utility you'd expect. However, it's engineered with a robust frame and a steel tip for a forceful defensive response.

“Taser” is actually the brand name for the weapons now made by Axon. This electro-shock weapon fires tiny probes or darts that are connected to thin wires, causing neuromuscular incapacitation. This pistol-looking device is intended to be used for personal protection because they can reach targets up to 15 feet away, and the probes can emit multiple cycles of electricity of around 50,000 volts.

It is illegal to use them on a person, or intended to be used on a person, as then they become a prohibited weapon in accordance with the Criminal Code of Canada.

Taser Amazon

If you’re trapped in a car, you can break glass with a Tactical Pen (otherwise known as a windshield breaker). But it's illegal to carry this if you intend to use it as a weapon in Canada, so remember - you will only be carrying this on your person because it's a normal pen.

Self-defense keychains are compact, easy-to-carry devices designed for personal protection, either by striking an assailant or creating noise to draw attention.

Although Apple’s AirTag is primarily designed to track personal items, it can also play a role in enhancing your personal safety. By discreetly placing an AirTag in your bag or attaching it to your keychain, you establish a covert connection between yourself and those closest to you. Your friends and family can then use the Find My app to effortlessly monitor your location while you're commuting or out for a jog.

Predator number 3034 flew 164 operational missions over Afghanistan between September 2001 and January 2003. Between August and November 2002, during the middle of its operations from Uzbekistan, number 3034 undertook a detached deployment to another operational site where it flew 32 missions. The National Air and Space Museum acquired Predator number 3034 in 2004 on the basis of its pivotal role in introducing armed RPAS into combat.

A taser shock can cause “cardiac arrest” and death, according to a 2012 study. Tasers can impair brain function such as causing reduced verbal learning and memory, but these effects last under an hour. The effects lasted, on average, less than one hour. A stun gun is not lethal but causes a significant amount of pain. There is no permanent damage from a stun gun.

Canadian law enforcement have strict guidelines and training programs in place for using tasers. The RCMP have to re-certify every year to continue carrying a “conducted energy weapon.”

Visit us in Washington, DC and Chantilly, VA to explore hundreds of the world’s most significant objects in aviation and space history. Free timed-entry passes are required for the Museum in DC.

As an aerospace milestone, the Predator marked several significant transformations underway at the beginning of the 21st century, primarily the dramatic shift from so-called “manned” to Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS). This shift had occurred slowly, as cruise missiles, target drones, and autopilots narrowed the roles for onboard human pilots. In most RPAS, including the Predator, humans are essential to their routine operation. While no one flies on the Predator, and it often cruises under control of an autopilot, most of its functions occur at the hands of a pilot, sensor operator, and mission intelligence coordinator in the ground-control station. In this way, the Predator is more “manned” than many other combat aircraft.

You can read my comprehensive guide on the 10 best self defense tools you can carry, but I've given you a quick rundown below as well.

Safety whistles in Canada is completely lawful. You can conveniently wear it around your neck or stash it in a handbag or pocket for easy access in case of emergencies.

Cattle prods are legal stun guns, as long as they are used only for the purpose of a deterrent against animals and are over a length of 480mm. Cattle prods must be used for cattle, to deter dog attacks and so on.

Hide your cash, cards, keys and those little treasures you don't want the world to find. And here's the best part: If needed, when filled with ice, it can serve as a makeshift defense tool. This bottle offers a smart, subtle way to keep your valuables secure while staying hydrated.

Officers are trained to use all energy-conducting weapons are only supposed to use them when a person is “causing, or may soon cause, themselves or someone else harm.”