Primary Function: Reconnaissance and surveillance with low altitude operation
Contractor: Aerovironment, Inc. Services: USN, USMC, USAF, US Army Power Plant: Electric Motor, rechargeable lithium ion batteries Wingspan: 4.5 feet (1.37 meters) Weight: 4.2 lbs (1.9 kilograms) Weight (ground control unit): 17 lbs (7.7 kilograms) Speed: 30-60 mph (26-52 knots) Range: 8-12 km (4.9-7.45 miles) Endurance: 60-90 minutes Altitude (operations): 100-500 feet air ground level ( to 152 meters) System Cost: approximately $173,000 (2004 dollars) Payload: High resolution, day/night camera and thermal imager Date deployed: 2004The RQ-11B Raven small unmanned aircraft system provides real-time direct situational awareness and target information for Joint Special Operations troops in the U.S. military. The Raven falls into the class of man-portable UAS.
The Raven back-packable system which features two air vehicles or AVs, a ground control unit, remote video terminal, transit cases and support equipment. Two specially trained special operators fly the Raven AV. The AV can be controlled manually or can autonomously navigate a preplanned route.
The Raven includes a color electro-optical camera and an infrared camera for night operations. The air vehicle is hand-launched, weighs less than 5 pounds and an endurance of up to 80 minutes.
The Raven UAS has proven itself in combat supporting U.S. operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, and other areas of conflict. The Raven is now used by all of the military services. The Air Force purchased the Raven UAS to replace the Desert Hawk UAS and Pointer UAS.
![Perseverance Mars rover collecting a sample from a rock called "Bunsen Peak"](http://images03.military.com/sites/default/files/styles/thumbnail_large/public/2024-04/ApNewsroom_NASA_Mars_40344.jpg?itok=VDgDNyaU "This photo provided by NASA shows the Perseverance Mars rover collecting a sample from a rock called "Bunsen Peak" using a coring bit on the end of its robotic arm on March 11, 2024. (NASA/JPL-Caltech/ASU via AP)")
