AeroVironment RQ-11 Raven

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RQ-11 Raven
FQM-151 Pointer

The AeroVironment RQ-11 Raven is a small hand-launched remote-controlled

United States military
, but now adopted by the military forces of many other countries.

The RQ-11 Raven was originally introduced as the

mean sea level, at flying speeds of 45–100 km/h.[4][unreliable source?] The U.S. Army deploys the Raven at company-level.[5]

Design and development

The Raven RQ-11B UAS is manufactured by AeroVironment. It was the winner of the US Army's SUAV program in 2005, and went into Full-Rate Production (FRP) in 2006. Shortly afterwards, it was also adopted by the US Marines, and the US Air Force for their ongoing FPASS Program. It has also been adopted by the military forces of many other countries (see below). More than 19,000 Raven airframes have been delivered to customers worldwide to date. A new Digital Data Link-enabled version of Raven now in production for US Forces and allies has improved endurance, among many other improvements.[citation needed]

The Raven can be either remotely controlled from the ground station or fly completely autonomous missions using

night vision camera.[citation needed
]

The RQ-11B Raven UA weighs about 1.9 kg (4.2 lb), has a flight endurance of 60–90 minutes and an effective operational radius of approximately 10 km (6.2 miles).[6]

The RQ-11B Raven UA is launched by hand, thrown into the air like a free flight model airplane. The Raven lands itself by auto-piloting to a pre-defined landing point and then performing a 45° slope (1 foot down for every 1 foot forward) controlled "Autoland" descent. The UAS can provide day or night aerial intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition, and reconnaissance.[citation needed]

In mid-2015, the US Marine Corps tested

RQ-21 Blackjack. Being certified for 'Secret' classification and at just 25 cubic inches (410 cm3) (measuring 3 in × 5.3 in × 1.6 in) and weighing 18 oz (510 g), the Harris SSDL allows the small Raven UAS to extend communications for troops in the field.[7]

In August 2015 selected units began receiving upgrades to their Raven sensors. The Raven Gimbal is a rotating camera with a 360-degree gimbal, which replaces the fixed camera that required maneuvering the aircraft to observe. The new camera can be switched between day and night settings without landing and swapping sensors.[8] In August 2017 Belgium bought 32 Raven-drones; Luxembourg bought 16.[citation needed]

Variants

Operators

A soldier prepares to launch the Raven in Iraq
The Raven is launched.

The Raven is used by the United States Army, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Special Operations Command. Additionally, foreign customers include Australia, Estonia, Italy, Denmark, Spain and Czech Republic. As of early 2012, over 19,000 airframes have already been shipped, making it the most widely adopted UAV system in the world today.[11]

The British forces in Iraq used Raven equipment.

SEAL operators in the 2012 film Act of Valor.[citation needed
]

The Netherlands MoD has acquired 72 operational RQ-11B systems with a total value of $23.74 million for use within Army reconnaissance units, its Marine Corps and its Special Forces (KCT).[14] At the turn of the year 2009 to 2010 the systems were deployed above the village Veen, as part of the Intensification of Civil-Military Cooperation.[15] In 2012 and 2013 the Raven was loaned by the Defense department to the police department of Almere to combat burglary.[16]

In April 2011, the U.S. announced that it would be supplying 85 Raven B systems to the Pakistan Army.[citation needed]

In June 2011, the U.S. announced $145.4 million in proposed aid for anti-terror efforts in north and east Africa,[17] including four Raven systems to be used by forces from Uganda and Burundi as part of the ongoing African Union peacekeeping mission in Somalia.[18] The US has also announced its intent to supply an unspecified number of Ravens to the Ukrainian armed forces.[19] Ukrainian operators criticized the Raven's analog control system that made them vulnerable to jamming and hacking by sophisticated Russian-backed separatists.[20]

Flight control module.

Iran has claimed it has captured two RQ-11, one "in Shahrivar 1390 (August 21 – September 19, 2011) and the other one in Aban (October 22 – November 20, 2012)".

Boeing Insitu ScanEagle.[22]

In September 2016, the Kenya Army was introduced to the Raven, and would "now be able to take lessons learned from the Raven training and apply them" on operations.

In January 2023, the

FLIR Systems R80 SkyRaider, a VTOL UAV that is easier to launch and recover and can provide a hover-and-stare surveillance capability.[23]

Current operators

Map with military AeroVironment RQ-11 Raven operators in blue
 Australia
  • Australian Armed Forces
 Belgium
 Bulgaria
 Canada
 Colombia
  • Colombian Armed Forces[26]
 Costa Rica
 Czech Republic
  • Czech Armed Forces[27]
 Estonia
  • Estonian Armed Forces
 Hungary
  • Hungarian Armed Forces[28]
 Iraq
 Italy
 Kenya
  • Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa between September 8–24, 2016, at a training center in Kenya, giving the Kenyans "a new capability on the battlefield."[30]
 Lebanon
 Lithuania
 Luxembourg
  • Luxembourg Armed Forces
 North Macedonia
  • Macedonian Armed Forces[35]
 Netherlands
 Norway
 Pakistan
 Philippines
 Portugal
 Romania
 Saudi Arabia
  • Saudi Arabian Armed Forces
 Slovakia
 Spain
 Thailand
  • Thai Armed Forces
 Uganda
  • Ugandan Air Force in December 2011.[39]
 Ukraine
 United Kingdom
 United States
  • U.S. Armed Forces: 1,798 systems[43]
 Uzbekistan
 Yemen

Specifications

  • Wingspan: 4.5 ft (1,37 m)
  • Length: 3 ft (0,91 m)
  • Weight: 4.2 lb (1,9 kg)
  • Engine: Aveox 27/26/7-AV electric motor
  • Cruising speed: approx. 18.64 mph (30.00 km/h)
  • Range: 6.2 miles (10 km)
  • Endurance: approx. 60–90 min

See also

Related lists

References

Notes
  1. ^ a b "RQ-11 Raven". GlobalSecurity.org. Archived from the original on 21 January 2009. Retrieved 2009-01-09.
  2. ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2015-09-19. Retrieved 2015-03-14.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  3. ^ Tomlinson, Cpl Ryan L (2008-05-14). "Gunfighter debuts Raven". IIMEF, Official Site US Marine Corps, 2nd Light Armored Reconnaissance Bn. Retrieved 2010-02-23. [dead link‍]
  4. ^ "RQ-11 Raven". Army-technology.com. Archived from the original on 2011-04-03. Retrieved 2009-10-09.
  5. ^ Mini Drones Win Soldier Praise at Army Experiment Archived 2015-04-02 at the Wayback Machine - Kitup.Military.com, 6 March 2015
  6. ^ "RQ-11 Raven datasheet" (PDF). AeroVironment. Archived (PDF) from the original on 3 January 2010. Retrieved 2010-02-08.
  7. ^ Data link lets small UAVs serve as secure comm nodes Archived 2015-07-14 at the Wayback Machine – Defensesystems.com, 1 July 2015
  8. ^ Troopers receive new Raven UAS camera upgrade Archived 2015-08-24 at the Wayback Machine – Army.mil, 21 August 2015
  9. ^ Pole, Ken (4 December 2017). "Blackjack: Army hits 21 with new ace in the sky". canadianarmytoday.com. Retrieved 15 October 2021.
  10. ^ Solar Raven Archived 2012-11-27 at the Wayback Machine – SUASNews.com, November 17, 2012
  11. ^ "Gallery: The Complete UAV Field Guide; Current: RQ-11B Raven (AeroVironment)". Popular Science. February 23, 2010. Archived from the original on 30 March 2010. Retrieved 2010-03-01.
  12. ^ "US Raven "loan" to MoD". UAV News. 3 October 2006. Archived from the original on 14 October 2006. Retrieved 30 October 2006.
  13. ^ "Ravens, Mini-UAVs Winning Gold Afghanistan's "Commando Olympics"". Archived from the original on 2011-08-25. Retrieved 2011-08-11.
  14. ^ "Netherlands Ministry of Defence: Raven Small UAS ready for use". Defensie.nl. September 1, 2009. Archived from the original on July 19, 2011. Retrieved 2009-09-01.
  15. ^ "Vliegende nachtkijkers ingezet tijdens jaarwisseling". Defensie.nl. January 1, 2009. Archived from the original on July 19, 2011. Retrieved 2010-01-04.
  16. ^ "AlmereSpionagevliegtuigje ingezet tegen inbraken". OmroepFlevoland.nl. January 28, 2013. Archived from the original on 2013-02-03. Retrieved 2013-01-28.
  17. ^ "US allocates US$145 million to fight terrorism in north, east Africa". defenceWeb. June 29, 2011. Archived from the original on July 6, 2011. Retrieved 2011-07-07.
  18. ^ "New Bird of Prey Hunts Somali Terrorists: Raven Drones". Wired. June 27, 2011. Archived from the original on July 1, 2011. Retrieved 2011-07-07.
  19. ^ Baldor, Lolita C.; Pickler, Nedra (March 11, 2015). "US to Send Ukraine Drones, More Aid, but No Lethal Weapons". ABC News. Associated Press. Archived from the original on March 24, 2015. Retrieved March 11, 2015.
  20. ^ Exclusive: U.S.-supplied drones disappoint Ukraine at the front lines Archived 2017-07-22 at the Wayback Machine - Reuters.com, 22 December 2016
  21. ^ FarsNews September 22, 2013 http://english.farsnews.ir/newstext.aspx?nn=13920631000264 Archived 2013-09-27 at the Wayback Machine
  22. ^ "Iran Claims To Have Captured Another US Drone – Business Insider". Business Insider. Archived from the original on 2013-09-28. Retrieved 2013-09-22.
  23. ^ "Marine Corps Replacing Fixed-Wing Small UAS with VTOL Types". Seapower Magazine. 19 January 2023. Archived from the original on 21 January 2023.
  24. ^ "Сухопътни войски". Archived from the original on 2014-05-12. Retrieved 2014-05-10.
  25. ^ "www.defensenews.com/article/20140513/DEFREG02/305130034/Canadian-Army-Navy-Develop-Ambitious-Plans-AF-Fights-Delays". www.defensenews.com. 2014-05-13. Archived from the original on May 14, 2014. Retrieved 2014-05-14.
  26. ^ a b Estados Unidos dona 15 aeronaves no tripuladas como las que se ven en películas – lateja.cr, August 10, 2021
  27. ^ "Czech military to buy two MUAVs for Afghanistan". ČTK (Czech Press Agency, www.ctk.cz). October 2, 2009. Archived from the original on June 6, 2011. Retrieved 2009-10-02.
  28. ^ "Titkos műveleti térképet leplezett le a köztévé?". 21 September 2015. Archived from the original on 2015-10-01. Retrieved 2015-09-21.
  29. ^ "Iraqi Army's UAVs give troops the big picture". Army.mil. 18 February 2010. Retrieved 2010-03-28.
  30. ^ U.S. Air Force SSgt Tiffany DeNault (20 September 2016). "Eye in the sky: Task Force Hurricane teaches Kenyan Defense Forces how to fly".
  31. ^ "Lebanon to receive US-built UAV's". defence.professionals (defpro). April 16, 2009. Archived from the original on January 28, 2010. Retrieved 2009-04-16.
  32. ^ "Heavy U.S. Military Aid to Lebanon Arrives ahead of Elections". Naharnet Newsdesk. April 9, 2009. Archived from the original on November 30, 2009. Retrieved 2009-04-09.
  33. ^ "Lebanon gets Raven mini UAV from U.S." United Press International. March 23, 2009. Archived from the original on March 27, 2009. Retrieved 2009-03-24.
  34. Daily Star
    , March 24, 2009.
  35. ^ [1] Archived 2013-12-16 at the Wayback Machine Drones from Washington arrived in Macedonia
  36. ^ Bhai, Farooq; Mitzer, Stijn (5 January 2022). "Thunder From The East - Pakistan's Operational UAV Fleet". Oryx.
  37. ^ "U.S. Military Delivers Counterterrorism Equipment to the Philippine Army and Marine Corps". February 2017. Archived from the original on 2018-08-31. Retrieved 2017-02-02.
  38. ^ "Estonia and Portugal procure AeroVironment small unmanned aircraft systems". The Defence Post. 15 September 2018. Archived from the original on 2018-09-15. Retrieved 16 September 2018.
  39. ^ "Ugandans train on Raven unmanned aircraft system". 24 January 2012.
  40. ^ "США передали украинским военным 72 беспилотника". Archived from the original on 2016-07-28. Retrieved 2016-07-27.
  41. ^ "Украина в ближайшее время получит новые разведывательные беспилотные аппараты RQ-11B "Raven"". 25 July 2016. Archived from the original on 2016-07-28. Retrieved 2016-07-27.
  42. ^ "Авіація Нацгвардії". nguinunpeaceoperations.tilda.ws. Archived from the original on 26 February 2020. Retrieved 2021-01-19.
  43. ^ Raven numbers Archived 2013-02-21 at the Wayback Machine – Strategypage.com, February 19, 2013
  44. ^ "Uzbekistan Receives RQ-11 UAV". Forecast International. 12 September 2018. Archived from the original on 14 September 2018. Retrieved 12 September 2018.
  45. ^ "Uzbekistan; Army Receives RQ-11 UAV". Defence Market Intelligence. 17 September 2018. Archived from the original on 17 September 2018. Retrieved 17 September 2018.
  46. ^ Mitzer, Stijn; Oliemans, Joost (20 September 2015). "The Oryx Handbook of Pre-war Yemeni Fighting Vehicles". Oryx.
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