What happens to thrust during a climb with drag?

During a climb, an aircraft experiences both lift and drag. Thrust must be increased to overcome the drag that opposes the aircraft’s forward motion. When climbing, the added gravitational force works against the thrust, and the drag increases due to the higher speed and angle of attack associated with climbing.

If the thrust does not increase, the aircraft would not be able to maintain the necessary airspeed and would struggle to gain altitude, leading to a potential stall. Therefore, the correct approach in a climb with drag is to increase the thrust sufficiently to overcome not only the forces of gravity but also the drag produced by maintaining that upward trajectory. This ensures sustained performance and safety during the climb phase.