Desert Hawk III quieter and more stable than Raven.

For over five years, the American infantry’s favorite UAS has been the tiny (2.2 kg/4.4 pound) Raven micro-UAS. But over the last few years, the slightly larger (3.2 kg/7 pound) Desert Hawk 3 (DH3) has been gaining in popularity. DH3 uses an Xbox like controller, which most troops are already familiar with. The UAS, once the parts are snapped together, has a 1.4 meter (54 inch) wingspan and is 92 cm (36 inches) long. New operators can be trained, on the job, in about a week. Battery powered, the DH3 can stay in the air for up to 90 minutes, flying a route specified by the operator and using onboard GPS and flight software for guidance. The DH3 can be equipped with daylight or night (heat imaging) cameras. Because of the larger carrying capacity, DH3 can carry a more powerful and stable camera than Raven. Everything seen on each flight is recorded, and simultaneously transmitted back to the operator, who views the video on a handheld controller or laptop computer. DH3 cruises at about 80 kilometers an hour and at an altitude of 100-160 meters (300-500 feet). The UAS can operate up to 15 kilometers from its base station. The UAS is launched using a […]
Desert Hawk III quieter and more stable than Raven.