What effect does lowering the landing gear have on thrust required?

Lowering the landing gear increases the thrust required during flight due to the added drag that the gear creates. When the landing gear is extended, it disrupts the smooth airflow around the aircraft, increasing both parasitic drag and form drag. This necessitates more thrust from the engines to maintain the same speed and altitude. The aircraft must compensate for this additional drag to sustain flight performance, particularly during the critical phases of approach and landing. Understanding how gear configuration affects drag is essential for pilots to manage aircraft performance efficiently, especially in terms of throttle management and maintaining optimal flight profiles during landing scenarios.