AeroVironment RQ-11 Raven
AeroVironment · United States · first flew 2001 · reconnaissance aircraft
The AeroVironment RQ-11 Raven is a small hand-launched unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) used primarily for battlefield reconnaissance and surveillance by US and allied ground forces. Its electric propulsion, compact size, and ease of operation make it one of the most widely deployed small tactical UAVs in the world.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | High-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × electric, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 0.91 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Hand-launched electric mini-UAV with pusher propeller
- Very small—wingspan under 1.5 m; fits in a backpack
- Fixed tricycle-style landing skids, no retractable gear
A tiny pusher-propeller aircraft small enough for one soldier to carry and hand-launch; the high straight wing, electric motor, and modular fuselage are distinctive.
Specifications
- The AeroVironment RQ-11 Raven has a length of 0.91 m (3 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 1.37 m (4 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 90 km/h (56 mph).
- Typical crew: 0 (unmanned).
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Developed by AeroVironment in the late 1990s and entering service with the US Army in 2001, the Raven grew out of earlier AeroVironment small UAV work. It was widely deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan and has since been adopted by numerous allied nations.
Variants
The RQ-11A was the initial production version; the improved RQ-11B features a more capable payload bay, upgraded data link, and enhanced autopilot. A digital data link version (RQ-11B Raven B) is the current standard.
Where you'll see it
Operated by the US Army, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Special Operations Forces, as well as by numerous allied militaries across Europe, the Middle East, and Asia-Pacific.
Related aircraft
- AeroVironment RQ-14 Dragon Eye
- 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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