AeroVironment RQ-11 Raven
| RQ-11 Raven | |
|---|---|
| An RQ-11 Raven UAV in flight | |
| General information | |
| Type | Miniature UAV |
| Manufacturer | AeroVironment |
| Status | In active service |
| Primary users | United States Army |
| Number built | 19,000+ airframes |
| History | |
| Manufactured | 2004–present |
| Introduction date | May 2003 |
| First flight | October 2001 |
| Developed from | FQM-151 Pointer |
,_25th_Infantry_Division_Base_Elmendorf-Richardson,_Alaska_(cropped).jpg){kind=link}
The AeroVironment RQ-11 Raven is a small hand-launched remote-controlled unmanned aerial vehicle (or SUAV) developed for the United States military, but now adopted by the military forces of many other countries.
The RQ-11 Raven was originally introduced as the FQM-151 in 1999, but in 2002 developed into its current form, resembling an enlarged FAI class F1C free flight model aircraft in general appearance. The craft is launched by hand and powered by a pusher configuration electric motor. The plane can fly up to 10 km at altitudes of approximately 150 m above ground level, and over 4,500 m above mean sea level, at flying speeds of 45–100 km/h. The U.S. Army deploys the Raven at company-level.