IAI RQ-5 Hunter
TRW Inc. · Israel · first flew 1991 · reconnaissance aircraft
The RQ-5 Hunter is a medium-altitude tactical reconnaissance drone developed jointly by Israel and the US, notable for its distinctive push-pull twin-engine layout.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | High-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 2 × piston, fuselage-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | high straight wing over a boxy fuselage |
| T — Tail | Twin fin |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- push-pull twin-engine layout with propellers front and rear
- twin-boom tail with twin vertical fins
- high straight wing over a boxy fuselage
Twin engines mounted front and rear of the fuselage in a push-pull arrangement, with twin tail booms and a high straight wing, distinguish it from single-engine UAVs of similar size.
Specifications
- The IAI RQ-5 Hunter has a length of 7.01 m (23 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 10.57 m (35 ft).
- Typical crew: 0 (remote).
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Developed from Israeli UAV designs with TRW as US prime contractor, the Hunter entered US Army service in the early 1990s for battlefield surveillance and target acquisition, later adapted to carry small precision munitions.
Variants
Followed by an improved Extended Range/Multi-Purpose Hunter derivative with heavier payload and weapons capability.
Where you'll see it
Flown operationally by the US Army, including over Iraq and Afghanistan, before being phased toward retirement as newer UAVs entered service.
Related aircraft
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