AeroVironment FQM-151 Pointer
AeroVironment · United States · first flew 1988 · reconnaissance aircraft
The AeroVironment FQM-151 Pointer is a man-portable hand-launched military mini-UAV designed for real-time reconnaissance at the small unit level, pioneering the concept of the soldier-operated tactical unmanned aerial vehicle.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | High-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 1.83 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Hand-launched miniature UAV that can be carried and operated by a single soldier
- Electric motor driving a pusher propeller — nearly silent in operation
- Small high-wing monoplane with a pusher configuration and straight wing
An extremely small high-wing monoplane that can be held in one hand; the pusher propeller configuration, straight wing, and small fixed undercarriage (or belly-land configuration) make it visually distinctive.
Specifications
- The AeroVironment FQM-151 Pointer has a length of 1.83 m (6 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 2.74 m (9 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 73 km/h (45 mph).
- Typical crew: 0 (unmanned).
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Developed in the late 1980s and entering US Army service in the early 1990s, the Pointer was one of the first mini-UAVs to be deployed in combat, seeing use during Operation Desert Storm in 1991. It was operated by Special Forces and Marine units for over-the-hill reconnaissance and influenced a generation of subsequent small UAV designs including the Raven.
Variants
The FQM-151 Pointer led directly to the more capable and widely-produced AeroVironment RQ-11 Raven, which has largely replaced it in service.
Where you'll see it
Used by US Army and Marine Corps units from the early 1990s through the 2000s; saw combat use in the Gulf War, Somalia, and the early phase of operations in Afghanistan and Iraq.
Related aircraft
- AeroVironment Centurion
- AeroVironment Helios Prototype
- AeroVironment RQ-11 Raven
- AeroVironment RQ-14 Dragon Eye
- Teledyne Ryan Scarab
- Tornado ECR
- General Atomics GNAT
- Seabird Seeker
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