RUAG Ranger

RUAG · Switzerland · first flew 2000 · reconnaissance aircraft

The RUAG Ranger is a Swiss-developed twin-boom tactical reconnaissance UAV designed for all-weather battlefield surveillance, used by the Swiss Army and exported to a small number of countries.

Recognition (WEFT)

W — Wings	High-mounted, straight
E — Engines	1 × piston, fuselage-mounted
F — Fuselage	3.7 m fuselage
T — Tail	Twin fin

WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.

Spot it by:

Twin-boom Swiss tactical UAV with high straight wing and pusher engine
Twin fins mounted at the ends of the tail booms
Large central payload pod between the booms below the wing

Twin tail booms with a pusher propeller at the rear of the central pod are the primary recognition features. High straight wing gives it a stable low-speed profile. The large central nacelle between the booms carries a gimballed sensor ball visible under the fuselage.

Specifications

The RUAG Ranger has a length of 3.7 m (12 ft).
It has a wingspan of 5.7 m (19 ft).
Its maximum speed is 200 km/h (124 mph).
Typical crew: 0.

Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.

History

RUAG developed the Ranger in the late 1990s as a medium-range ISR system for the Swiss Armed Forces, with the type entering service around 2000. It is capable of day/night and all-weather operation using electro-optical and infrared sensors. The system attracted export interest, with Finland acquiring a number of examples.

Variants

Base Ranger with EO/IR payload; minor variants differ in payload and avionics fits.

Where you'll see it

Operated by the Swiss Army; Finland's Army also acquired examples for tactical reconnaissance. Production was limited but the type gave both users a capable organic UAV capability.

Related aircraft

AircraftIQ — the aircraft field guide: 4,893 recognition guides, live overhead identification, works offline.