AeroVironment RQ-11 RAVEN

In 1999, the US government purchased the 4 FQM-151 Pointer for the development of advanced military operations in human settlements. The Pointer complex proved useful, but impractical due to the large size of the ground control station. Therefore, at the request of the US Army, Aero Vironment was engaged in developing a smaller NSO. However, the upgraded complex also received a more compact UAV named Raven. From "Pointer" it was about 2 less. The first prototype of this device, called Flashlight, was first lifted to the sky in October 2001. In 2002, a number of improvements were made over it, and the final version was named Raven ("Raven").

The prototype "The Raven" was made by hand and are not suited for mass production. Therefore, the first batch of released remotely controlled aerial vehicles has small volume, had the name of Block I Raven and released in 2003 In this version of the UAV fuselage was completed with easily replaceable bow department payload. Testing of this device helped find a lot of shortcomings, which experts attributed the unsatisfactory stabilization UAV in flight and the difficulty of planting machine.

These shortcomings managed to fix the machine "Raven, Block 2", he entered the US Army in the autumn of 2003 years. He checked in combat operations in Afghanistan, and in the 2004 179, the government ordered complexes "Raven", each of which comes with three UAVs. In the ranks of the army UAV "Raven" was designated RQ-11A.

In fact, RQ-11A - it is a smaller version of RPV FQM-151 Pointer, but through the use of improved technologies capable of carrying the same payload, control system and navigation system. To adapt the transition to the production of "Pointer" on the company Raven was not difficult, because they almost have the same structure and the target load.

Raven RPV take-off weight is 1,9 kg, range is up to 10 km, flight duration is about 80 minutes. The device performs flights in the speed range from 45 to 95 km / h at altitudes 30-300 m. 

UAV RQ-11A can be controlled independently of GPS-navigation or in manual mode with a ground control station. One click drone operator returns to the starting point. The standard target load consists of a color CCD cameras or infrared cameras

Raven - the smallest UAV in the US Army, but its effectiveness in carrying out intelligence operations has allowed the model to fill the niche battalion level, where the use of larger UAVs unprofitable.

Despite the small set of features compared to other tactical UAV, Raven sends units in real-time intelligence required large amounts of information that previously could only get the highest levels of command.

The technology of the UAV is not a novelty for the military. But since its use implied takeoff from the runway and the availability of qualified personnel, drones were actively exploited only by the highest ranked command units. Passing to the lower levels, information could often become obsolete and irrelevant for the battalion. Also, proceeding from the fact that one UAV in one flight carried out several tasks, the information was sent in priority order. The presence of Raven's own drones in the ranks of battalions makes it possible to conduct immediate overflights of interesting locations for detailed reconnaissance, which minimizes the risk to the lives of soldiers, providing them with relevant data on the surrounding situation.

The price of one UAV Raven - 35 thousand. $, The cost of the entire complex - 250 thousand. $.

AeroVironment RQ-11 RAVEN. Characteristics:

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