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RQ-11 Raven

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RQ-11 Raven UAV

Army Cpl. Jerry Rogers assembles an RQ-11 Raven unmanned aerial vehicle
Role	Remote controlled UAV^[1]
Manufacturer	AeroVironment
First flight	October 2001
Introduction	May 2003
Status	In use on combat field
Primary users	United States Army United States Air Force
Number built	1300+
Program cost	$250,000
Unit cost	$35,000
Developed from	FQM-151 Pointer UAV

The AeroVironment RQ-11 Raven is a remote-controlled miniature unmanned aerial vehicle (or MUAV) used by the U.S. military and its allies. The craft is launched by hand and powered by an electric motor. The plane can fly up to 6.2 miles (10 km) up to altitudes of 1,000 feet (305 m) above ground level (AGL), and 15,000 feet mean sea level (MSL), at flying speed of 28-60 mph (45-97 km/h).

[hide]

[edit] Design and development

The Raven can be either remotely controlled from the ground station or fly completely autonomous missions using GPS waypoint navigation. The UAV can be ordered to immediately return to its launch point simply by pressing a single command button. Standard mission payloads include charge-coupled device color video and an infrared night vision camera.

A single Raven costs about $35,000 and the total system costs $250,000. ^[1]

[edit] Variants

RQ-11A Raven A (no longer in production)
RQ-11B Raven B

[edit] Operators

A soldier prepares to launch the Raven in Iraq

A soldier launching a Raven in Iraq

The Raven is used by the United States Army, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Special Operations Command. Additionally, US allies such as Australia, Italy, Denmark, and Spain have also begun acquiring it, with more countries expected over the next few years. As of early 2008, over 8,000 airframes have already been shipped, making it the most prolific UAV system in the world today.^{[citation needed]}

The British forces in Iraq are using U.S. Raven equipment and personnel on loan. ^[2]^{[dead link]}

The Royal Danish Army acquired 12 Raven systems in September 2007 - three systems will be delivered to the Huntsmen Corps, while the remainder will be deployed with soldiers from the Artillery Training Center. ^[3]^{[dead link]}

The Netherlands will acquire an unspecified number of RQ-11B systems for a total value of $7.7 million. ^[4]

List of current operators:

Australia
Denmark
Spain
Italy
Lebanon 12 systems ^[5]^[6]^[7]^[8]
Netherlands
United Kingdom
United States

[edit] Specifications

Wing Span 4 ft 3 in
Length 3 ft 7 in
Weight 4.2 lb
Engine Aveox 27/26/7-AV electric motor
Cruising speed 60 mph
Range 6.2 miles
Endurance approx. 80 min

[edit] References

^ ^a ^b "RQ-11 Raven". GlobalSecurity.org. http://www.globalsecurity.org/intell/systems/raven.htm. Retrieved on 2009-01-09.
^ "Raven keeps a lookout over Iraq - MOD". Ministry of Defence - UK. http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/DefenceNews/MilitaryOperations/RavenKeepsALookoutOverIraq.htm. Retrieved on 2009-01-09.
^ "Press release" (in Danish). forsvaret.dk. http://forsvaret.dk/FMT/Nyt+og+Presse/RAVEN+B.htm. Retrieved on 2009-01-09.
^ "Netherlands Ministry of Defence Selects AeroVironment's Raven Small UAS". AeroVironment, Inc.. http://www.avinc.com/pr_detail.asp?ID=75. Retrieved on 2009-01-09.
^ "Lebanon to receive US-built UAV's". defence.professionals (defpro). April 16, 2009. http://www.defpro.com/news/details/6811/. Retrieved on 2009-04-16.
^ "Heavy U.S. Military Aid to Lebanon Arrives ahead of Elections". Naharnet Newsdesk. April 09, 2009. http://www.naharnet.com/domino/tn/NewsDesk.nsf/Lebanon/C4E6544B51A01293C2257593001BCF28?OpenDocument. Retrieved on 2009-04-09.
^ "Lebanon gets Raven mini UAV from U.S.". United Press International. March 23, 2009. http://www.metimes.com/Security/2009/03/23/lebanon_gets_raven_mini_uav_from_us/c6c0/. Retrieved on 2009-03-24.
^ US delivers military vehicles to Lebanese Army. Daily Star, March 24, 2009.

"RQ-11 Raven". Popular Science: 12. March 2006. http://books.google.com/books?id=m3ZUE6GJZekC&printsec=frontcover&source=gbs_summary_r&cad=0_0#PPA13-IA5,M1.

[edit] See also

Related lists

List of active United States military aircraft

[edit] External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: RQ-11 Raven

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