AeroVironment RQ-14 Dragon Eye
AeroVironment · United States · first flew 2001 · reconnaissance aircraft
The AeroVironment RQ-14 Dragon Eye is a small man-portable unmanned aerial vehicle developed for the United States Marine Corps to provide organic tactical reconnaissance at squad and platoon level.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 2 × piston, wing-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 0.91 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | No tailplane |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Man-portable USMC micro-UAV
- Twin-boom pusher configuration with two small electric motors
- Breaks down to fit in a Marine's backpack
A tiny flying-wing-like UAV just over one metre in wingspan; twin pusher propellers and a blended body with a camera payload in the nose distinguish it.
Specifications
- The AeroVironment RQ-14 Dragon Eye has a length of 0.91 m (3 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 1.14 m (4 ft).
- Typical crew: 0 (unmanned).
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Developed in the late 1990s and first fielded around 2003, the Dragon Eye was designed to be carried by Marines in a backpack and launched by hand. It saw service in Iraq providing real-time imagery to ground commanders.
Variants
Evolved into the Dragon Warrior and was succeeded by the larger Dragon Eye Mk.2 concepts; the basic Dragon Eye was progressively phased out as newer small UAS entered service.
Where you'll see it
Used by the United States Marine Corps during operations in Iraq; since replaced by more capable small UAS systems.
Related aircraft
- AeroVironment RQ-11 Raven
- AeroVironment Helios Prototype
- AeroVironment Centurion
- AeroVironment Global Observer
- Elbit Systems Silver Arrow Sniper
- MQ-9 Reaper
- Sentinel R.1
- BQM-167 Skeeter
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