Military drones, also known as unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) or remotely piloted aircraft (RPAs), differ from civilian drones in several key aspects:

1. **Purpose**: Military drones are primarily designed for military and defense purposes, including reconnaissance, surveillance, target acquisition, intelligence gathering, and combat missions. Civilian drones, on the other hand, are used for a wide range of commercial, recreational, and non-military applications such as aerial photography, surveying, agriculture, and search and rescue.

2. **Size and Payload Capacity**: Military drones tend to be larger and have higher payload capacities compared to civilian drones. They may carry advanced sensors, cameras, communication equipment, weapons, and other mission-specific payloads for military operations.

3. **Performance and Range**: Military drones are often designed for long-endurance flights and extended ranges to cover large areas and conduct missions over long distances. They may have higher maximum speeds, longer flight times, and greater operational altitudes compared to civilian drones.

4. **Autonomy and Automation**: Military drones may incorporate advanced autonomous flight capabilities and sophisticated onboard systems for mission planning, navigation, and decision-making. They may operate autonomously or semi-autonomously under the control of human operators or command centers.

5. **Stealth and Survivability**: Some military drones are designed with stealth features, low observability, and reduced radar cross-sections to minimize detection and improve survivability in hostile environments. They may also have enhanced durability and redundancy to withstand harsh operating conditions and enemy threats.

6. **Security and Encryption**: Military drones employ robust security measures and encryption protocols to protect communication links, data transmission, and command-and-control systems from interception, hacking, and cyber attacks.

7. **Regulation and Export Controls**: Military drones are subject to stricter regulation, export controls, and international arms treaties compared to civilian drones. Governments closely monitor and control the sale, transfer, and use of military-grade UAVs to prevent proliferation and misuse.

While there may be some overlap in technology and capabilities between military and civilian drones, the primary differences lie in their intended use, size, performance, autonomy, and level of regulation and control.