Engineering:AeroVironment RQ-11 Raven

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Short description: Family of unmanned reconnaissance aircraft
RQ-11 Raven
An RQ-11 Raven UAV in flight
General information
ManufacturerAeroVironment
Management and usageUnited States Army
United States Air Force
Number built19,000+ airframes
History
Manufactured2004–present
Introduction dateMay 2003
First flightOctober 2001
Developed fromFQM-151 Pointer

The AeroVironment RQ-11 Raven is a small hand-launched remote-controlled unmanned aerial vehicle (or SUAV)[2] developed for the United States military, but now adopted by the military forces of many other countries.

The RQ-11 Raven was originally introduced as the FQM-151 in 1999, but in 2002 developed into its current form,[3] resembling an enlarged FAI class F1C free flight model aircraft in general appearance. The craft is launched by hand and powered by a pusher configuration electric motor. The plane can fly up to 10 km at altitudes of approximately 150 m above ground level, and over 4,500 m above mean sea level, at flying speeds of 45–100 km/h.[4] The U.S. Army deploys the Raven at company-level.[5]

Design and development

The RQ-11B Raven UA weighs about 1.9 kg (4.2 lb), has a flight endurance of 60–90 minutes and an effective operational radius of approximately 10 km (6.2 miles).[6]


In mid-2015, the US Marine Corps tested Harris Corporation's Small Secure Data Link (SSDL), a radio device that fits onto a Raven's nose to provide beyond line-of-sight communications for Marines down to squad level. Acting as communications nodes for ground forces has become an important function for UASs, but has been restricted to larger platforms like the RQ-4 Global Hawk or RQ-21 Blackjack. Being certified for 'Secret' classification and at just 25 cubic inches (410 cm3) (measuring 3 in × 5.3 in × 1.6 in) and weighing 18 oz (510 g), the Harris SSDL allows the small Raven UAS to extend communications for troops in the field.[7]

In August 2015, selected units began receiving upgrades to their Raven sensors. The Raven Gimbal is a rotating camera with a 360-degree gimbal, which replaces the fixed camera that required maneuvering the aircraft to observe. The new camera can be switched between day and night settings without landing and swapping sensors.[8] In August 2017, Belgium bought 32 Raven-drones; Luxembourg bought 16.

Variants

  • CU-173 Raven B - version for the Canadian Armed Forces[9]
  • Solar Raven – In November 2012, the Air Force Research Laboratory integrated 20 cm2 (3.1 in2) flexible solar panels into the Raven platform's wing sections using a clear, protective plastic film and an adhesive to augment the existing battery power system, increasing endurance by 60%. Future improvements include improving the durability of the solar panels and reducing their weight. Integration work is also being conducted on the AeroVironment Wasp and the RQ-20 Puma.[10]

Operators

A soldier prepares to launch the Raven in Iraq
The Raven is launched.

The Raven is used by the United States Army, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Special Operations Command. Additionally, foreign customers include Australia, Estonia, Italy, Denmark, Spain and Czech Republic. As of early 2012, over 19,000 airframes have already been shipped, making it the most widely adopted UAV system in the world today.[11]

The British forces in Iraq used Raven equipment.[12] The Royal Danish Army acquired 12 Raven systems in September 2007; three systems will be delivered to the Huntsmen Corps, while the remainder will be deployed with soldiers from the Artillery Training Center.[13] A 2010 documentary film, Armadillo, shows Danish forces deploying a Raven in operations around FOB Armadillo in the Helmand province of Afghanistan. The drone also makes an appearance being used by the SEAL operators in the 2012 film Act of Valor. The Netherlands MoD has acquired 72 operational RQ-11B systems with a total value of $23.74 million for use within Army reconnaissance units, its Marine Corps and its Special Forces (KCT).[14] At the turn of the year 2009 to 2010 the systems were deployed above the village Veen, as part of the Intensification of Civil-Military Cooperation.[15] In 2012 and 2013 the Raven was loaned by the Defense department to the police department of Almere to combat burglary.[16]


In June 2011, the U.S. announced $145.4 million in proposed aid for anti-terror efforts in north and east Africa,[17] including four Raven systems to be used by forces from Uganda and Burundi as part of the ongoing African Union peacekeeping mission in Somalia.[18] The US has also announced its intent to supply an unspecified number of Ravens to the Ukrainian armed forces.[19] Ukrainian operators criticized the Raven's analog control system that made them vulnerable to jamming and hacking by sophisticated Russian-backed separatists.[20]

Flight control module.

Iran has claimed it has captured two RQ-11, one "in Shahrivar 1390 (August 21 – September 19, 2011) and the other one in Aban (October 22 – November 20, 2012)".[21] It also indicated that "much of the data of these drones has been decoded", but did not indicate whether the drone has been duplicated, as has been done with the RQ-170 and the Boeing Insitu ScanEagle.[22]

In September 2016, the Kenya Army was introduced to the Raven, and would "now be able to take lessons learned from the Raven training and apply them" on operations.

In January 2023, the U.S. Marine Corps revealed they had retired the RQ-11B Raven SUAS in favor of the FLIR Systems R80 SkyRaider, a VTOL UAV that is easier to launch and recover and can provide a hover-and-stare surveillance capability.[23]

Current operators

Map with military AeroVironment RQ-11 Raven operators in blue
 Australia
  • Australian Armed Forces
 Austria
  • Austrian Armed Forces[24]
 Belgium
  • Belgian Armed Forces
 Bulgaria
  • Bulgarian Armed Forces[25]
 Canada
  • Canadian Armed Forces[26]
 Colombia
  • Colombian Armed Forces[27]
 Costa Rica
  • Public Force of Costa Rica[27]
 Czech Republic
  • Czech Armed Forces[28]
 Estonia
  • Estonian Armed Forces
 Hungary
  • Hungarian Armed Forces[29]
 Iraq
  • Iraqi Armed Forces[30]
 Italy
  • Italian Armed Forces
 Kenya
  • Kenyan Armed Forces - Kenya Army "Military Intelligence Battalion members received basic training on assembly, disassembly, repair, and preventative maintenance for the AeroVironment RQ-11 Raven as those topics relate to basic mission planning and advanced flight plans" during training held by personnel of 1st Battalion, 124th Infantry Regiment (ARNG), deployed to Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa between September 8–24, 2016, at a training center in Kenya, giving the Kenyans "a new capability on the battlefield."[31]
 Lebanon
 Lithuania
  • Lithuanian Armed Forces
 Luxembourg
  • Luxembourg Armed Forces
 North Macedonia
  • Macedonian Armed Forces[36]
 Netherlands
  • Netherlands Armed Forces
 Norway
  • Norwegian Armed Forces
 Pakistan
 Philippines
  • Armed Forces of the Philippines[38]
 Portugal
  • Portuguese Armed Forces[39]
 Romania
  • Romanian Armed Forces
 Saudi Arabia
  • Saudi Arabian Armed Forces
 Slovakia
  • Slovak Armed Forces
 Spain
  • Spanish Armed Forces
 Thailand
  • Thai Armed Forces
 Uganda
  • Ugandan Armed Forces - training given to Ugandan Air Force in December 2011.[40]
 Ukraine
  • Ukrainian Armed Forces: 72 systems[41][42]
  • Ukrainian Air Guard[43]
 United Kingdom
  • British Armed Forces
 United States
  • U.S. Armed Forces: 1,798 systems[44]
 Uzbekistan
 Yemen
  • Yemeni Armed Forces[47]

Specifications

  • Wingspan: 4.5 ft (1,37 m)
  • Length: 3 ft (0,91 m)
  • Weight: 4.2 lb (1,9 kg)
  • Engine: Aveox 27/26/7-AV electric motor
  • Cruising speed: approx. 18.64 mph (30.00 km/h)
  • Range: 6.2 miles (10 km)
  • Endurance: approx. 60–90 min

See also

Related lists

  • List of active United States military aircraft

References

Notes
  1. ↑ "RQ-11 Raven". GlobalSecurity.org. http://www.globalsecurity.org/intell/systems/raven.htm. 
  2. ↑ "Archived copy". https://asc.army.mil/docs/pubs/alt/current/issue/articles/08_Acquisition_in_the_Fast_Lane_--_The_Small_Unmanned_Aerial_Vehicle_%28SUAV%29_Product_Office_200707.pdf. 
  3. ↑ Tomlinson, Cpl Ryan L (2008-05-14). "Gunfighter debuts Raven". IIMEF, Official Site US Marine Corps, 2nd Light Armored Reconnaissance Bn. http://www.iimefpublic.usmc.mil/public/infolineMarines.nsf/ArticlesListingReadCurrent/D760F58FD21A09A1852574440048F21E. 
  4. ↑ "RQ-11 Raven". Army-technology.com. http://www.army-technology.com/projects/rq11-raven/. 
  5. ↑ Mini Drones Win Soldier Praise at Army Experiment - Kitup.Military.com, 6 March 2015
  6. ↑ "RQ-11 Raven datasheet". AeroVironment. http://www.avinc.com/downloads/AV_RAVEN-DOM_V10109.pdf. 
  7. ↑ Data link lets small UAVs serve as secure comm nodes – Defensesystems.com, 1 July 2015
  8. ↑ Troopers receive new Raven UAS camera upgrade – Army.mil, 21 August 2015
  9. ↑ Pole, Ken (4 December 2017). "Blackjack: Army hits 21 with new ace in the sky". canadianarmytoday.com. https://canadianarmytoday.com/blackjack-army-hits-21-with-new-ace-in-the-sky/. 
  10. ↑ Solar Raven – SUASNews.com, November 17, 2012
  11. ↑ "Gallery: The Complete UAV Field Guide; Current: RQ-11B Raven (AeroVironment)". Popular Science. February 23, 2010. http://www.popsci.com/technology/gallery/2010-02/gallery-future-drones. 
  12. ↑ "US Raven "loan" to MoD". UAV News. October 3, 2006. http://www.livingroom.org.au/uavblog/archives/us_raven_loan_to_mod.php. 
  13. ↑ "Ravens, Mini-UAVs Winning Gold Afghanistan's "Commando Olympics"". http://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/raven-uavs-winning-gold-in-afghanistans-commando-olympics-01432/. 
  14. ↑ "Netherlands Ministry of Defence: Raven Small UAS ready for use". Defensie.nl. September 1, 2009. http://www.defensie.nl/actueel/nieuws/2009/09/01/46135077/Vliegende_verrekijker_Raven_klaar_voor_gebruik. 
  15. ↑ "Vliegende nachtkijkers ingezet tijdens jaarwisseling". Defensie.nl. January 1, 2009. http://www.defensie.nl/actueel/nieuws/2010/01/01/46142977/Vliegende_nachtkijkers_ingezet_tijdens_jaarwisseling_video. 
  16. ↑ "AlmereSpionagevliegtuigje ingezet tegen inbraken". OmroepFlevoland.nl. January 28, 2013. http://www.omroepflevoland.nl/Nieuws/98802/almere-spionagevliegtuigje-ingezet-tegen-inbraken. 
  17. ↑ "US allocates US$145 million to fight terrorism in north, east Africa". defenceWeb. June 29, 2011. http://www.defenceweb.co.za/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=16683:us-allocates-us145-million-to-fight-terrorism-in-north-africa&catid=56:diplomacy-a-peace&Itemid=111. 
  18. ↑ "New Bird of Prey Hunts Somali Terrorists: Raven Drones". Wired. June 27, 2011. https://www.wired.com/dangerroom/2011/06/new-bird-of-prey-hunts-somali-terrorists-raven-drones/. Retrieved 2011-07-07. 
  19. ↑ Baldor, Lolita C.; Pickler, Nedra (March 11, 2015). "US to Send Ukraine Drones, More Aid, but No Lethal Weapons". ABC News. Associated Press. https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory/us-send-aid-small-drones-ukraine-29552510. 
  20. ↑ Exclusive: U.S.-supplied drones disappoint Ukraine at the front lines - Reuters.com, 22 December 2016
  21. ↑ FarsNews September 22, 2013 http://english.farsnews.ir/newstext.aspx?nn=13920631000264
  22. ↑ "Iran Claims To Have Captured Another US Drone – Business Insider". http://www.businessinsider.com/iran-claims-to-have-captured-another-us-drone-2012-12. 
  23. ↑ "Marine Corps Replacing Fixed-Wing Small UAS with VTOL Types". 19 January 2023. https://seapowermagazine.org/marine-corps-replacing-fixed-wing-small-uas-with-vtol-types/. 
  24. ↑ "Raben für das Bundesheer". www.doppeladler.com.com. https://www.doppeladler.com/da/oebh/raben-fuer-das-bundesheer/. 
  25. ↑ "Сухопътни войски". http://landforce.mod.bg/Pokaz-na-novo-oborudvane-v-61-mbr/11:1145.html. 
  26. ↑ "www.defensenews.com/article/20140513/DEFREG02/305130034/Canadian-Army-Navy-Develop-Ambitious-Plans-AF-Fights-Delays". www.defensenews.com. 2014-05-13. http://www.defensenews.com/article/20140513/DEFREG02/305130034/Canadian-Army-Navy-Develop-Ambitious-Plans-AF-Fights-Delays. 
  27. ↑ 27.0 27.1 Estados Unidos dona 15 aeronaves no tripuladas como las que se ven en películas – lateja.cr, August 10, 2021
  28. ↑ "Czech military to buy two MUAVs for Afghanistan". ČTK (Czech Press Agency, www.ctk.cz). October 2, 2009. http://www.ceskenoviny.cz/tema/zpravy/czech-military-to-buy-two-muavs-for-afghanistan/400665&id_seznam=2054. 
  29. ↑ "Titkos műveleti térképet leplezett le a köztévé?". 21 September 2015. http://index.hu/kultur/media/2015/09/21/benko_tibor_terkep_hadmuveleti/. 
  30. ↑ "Iraqi Army's UAVs give troops the big picture". Army.mil. 18 February 2010. https://www.army.mil/article/34601/iraqi-armys-uavs-give-troops-the-big-picture/. 
  31. ↑ U.S. Air Force SSgt Tiffany DeNault (20 September 2016). "Eye in the sky: Task Force Hurricane teaches Kenyan Defense Forces how to fly". https://www.army.mil/article/175409/eye_in_the_sky_task_force_hurricane_teaches_kenyan_defense_forces_how_to_fly. 
  32. ↑ "Lebanon to receive US-built UAV's". defence.professionals (defpro). April 16, 2009. http://www.defpro.com/news/details/6811/. 
  33. ↑ "Heavy U.S. Military Aid to Lebanon Arrives ahead of Elections". Naharnet Newsdesk. April 9, 2009. http://www.naharnet.com/domino/tn/NewsDesk.nsf/Lebanon/C4E6544B51A01293C2257593001BCF28?OpenDocument. 
  34. ↑ "Lebanon gets Raven mini UAV from U.S.". United Press International. March 23, 2009. http://www.metimes.com/Security/2009/03/23/lebanon_gets_raven_mini_uav_from_us/c6c0/. 
  35. ↑ US delivers military vehicles to Lebanese Army. Daily Star, March 24, 2009.
  36. ↑ [1] Drones from Washington arrived in Macedonia
  37. ↑ Bhai, Farooq; Mitzer, Stijn (5 January 2022). "Thunder From The East - Pakistan's Operational UAV Fleet". https://www.oryxspioenkop.com/2022/01/thunder-from-east-pakistans-operational.html. 
  38. ↑ "U.S. Military Delivers Counterterrorism Equipment to the Philippine Army and Marine Corps". February 2017. https://ph.usembassy.gov/us-military-delivers-counterterrorism-equipment-philippine-army-marine-corps/. 
  39. ↑ "Estonia and Portugal procure AeroVironment small unmanned aircraft systems". 15 September 2018. https://thedefensepost.com/2018/09/15/estonia-portugal-aerovironment-uas/. 
  40. ↑ "Ugandans train on Raven unmanned aircraft system". 24 January 2012. https://www.army.mil/article/71520/ugandans_train_on_raven_unmanned_aircraft_system. 
  41. ↑ "США передали украинским военным 72 беспилотника". http://www.unian.net/war/1439868-ssha-peredali-ukrainskim-voennyim-72-bespilotnika.html. 
  42. ↑ "Украина в ближайшее время получит новые разведывательные беспилотные аппараты RQ-11B "Raven"". 25 July 2016. http://military-informant.com/airforca/ukraina-v-blizhayshee-vremya-poluchit-razvedyivatelnyie-bespilotnyie-apparatyi-rq-11b-raven.html. 
  43. ↑ "Авіація Нацгвардії". http://nguinunpeaceoperations.tilda.ws/aviationguard. Retrieved 2021-01-19. 
  44. ↑ Raven numbers – Strategypage.com, February 19, 2013
  45. ↑ "Uzbekistan Receives RQ-11 UAV". Forecast International. 12 September 2018. https://www.forecastinternational.com/news/index.cfm?recno=258373. 
  46. ↑ "Uzbekistan; Army Receives RQ-11 UAV". 17 September 2018. http://dmilt.com/asia/uzbekistan-army-receives-rq-11-uav. 
  47. ↑ Mitzer, Stijn; Oliemans, Joost (20 September 2015). "The Oryx Handbook of Pre-war Yemeni Fighting Vehicles". https://www.oryxspioenkop.com/2015/09/pre-war-yemeni-fighting-vehicles_20.html. 
Bibliography

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