Description

Group 1 Small UAS are back-packable and used for 'over-the-hill' intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR). With manual operator control or via a preprogrammed route of flight and uses onboard sensors and communications equipment to gather and transmit imagery of the objective area back to the ground control station and remote video receive terminals. The Group 1 portfolio currently consists of the RQ-11B Raven, RQ-12A Wasp and RQ-20A Puma. Together, they form the Small Unit Remote Scouting System (SURSS) Program of Record. Non-program of record systems within the portfolio consist of SkyRanger and InstantEye vertical take-off and lift systems as well as the PD-100 Black Hornet micro UAS.

RQ-12A Wasp IV

Wasp IV is the Small Unit Remote Scouting System (SURSS) Program of Record smallest UAS weighing less than three pounds. Missions are conducted by small tactical units (platoons and squads) for front-line, day/night reconnaissance and surveillance to provide the small unit leader the intelligence needed to make real-time decisions. The all-environment, hand-launched system has an integrated digital data link (DDL) that transmits live airborne video images and location information to a ground control station (GCS) and remote video terminal (RVT). It also includes a stabilized high-resolution gimbaled electro-optical/ infrared (EO/IR) camera. Each system contains two air vehicles, one GCS and one RVT.

Specifications

Speed: 20-45 kt
Endurance: 50 minutes
Operating Altitude: 500 ft AGL
Maximum Altitude: 10, 000 ft MSL
Wing Span: 3.3 ft    
Length: 2.7 ft
Weight: 2.75 lbs
Standard Payloads: EO/IR gimbaled cameras
Original Equipment Manufacturer: AeroVironment Inc.

RQ-11B Raven

Raven is the Small Unit Remote Scouting System (SURSS) Program of Record mid-range unmanned aerial system (UAS). Missions are conducted by small tactical units (platoons) for front-line, day/night reconnaissance and surveillance including convoy operations and to provide a commander the intelligence needed to make real-time decisions. The battery-powered, hand-launched system weighs less than five pounds, has a fixed electro-optical (EO) payload and a combined gimbaled EO and infrared (IR) camera that transmits still images and full-motion video to a ground control station (GCS) and remote video terminal (RVT). Each system contains three air vehicles, one GCS and one RVT.

Specifications                    
Speed: 17-44 kts
Endurance: 60-90 minutes (rechargeable battery)
Operating Altitude: 150-1,000 ft above ground level (AGL)
Maximum Altitude: 10, 000 ft mean sea level (MSL)
Wing Span: 4.5 ft      
Length: 3 ft    
Weight: 4.7 lbs
Standard Payloads: Forward/side-looking EO/IR cameras; IR marker; EO/IR Gimbal coming soon
Original Equipment Manufacturer: AeroVironment Inc.

RQ-20B Puma

The largest of the Small Unit Remote Scouting System (SURSS) Program of Record UAS, Puma is a 13.5-pound, all-environment, hand- or mechanical-launched, reconnaissance and surveillance UAS employed by the company level. Because of its longer endurance, it is well suited to develop pattern of life, perimeter security and persistent surveillance of targets and areas of interest. The system uses an integrated digital data link (DDL) and gimbaled EO/IR sensor with laser illumination payload. Each system contains three air vehicles, and one ground control station.

Specifications

Range: up to 28 km                  
Speed: 20-45 kts
Endurance: 3.5 hours
Operating Altitude: 150-1,000 ft AGL
Maximum Altitude: 10, 500 ft MSL
Wing Span: 9.2 ft      
Length: 4.7 ft 
Weight: 13.5 lbs
Standard Payloads: Gimbal Electro-Optical EO/IR camera; IR marker
Original Equipment Manufacturer: AeroVironment Inc.