The Mosquito: Israel's Unique Micro-Unmanned Aircraft

by Nissan Ratzlav-Katz

(IsraelNN.com) September 22, 2009
Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) revealed a unique hand-launched unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) at an aeronautics conference earlier this month. The ultra-light UAV, called the Mosquito, was developed in conjunction with the Ministry of Defense for use by combat units in gathering field intelligence.

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Weighing only 500 grams, the Mosquito is almost half as light as the micro-class UAVs developed thus far. It has a range of two kilometers and can run autonomously for 40 minutes at a time, even in winds of up to 25 knots. Equipped with a miniature camera, the micro-UAV can be maneuvered from the launch site by troops monitoring it in flight.

The advantage of the Mosquito is not limited only to its size and weight. IAI researchers developed a unique, hand-held launching system adapted from the design of a fishing harpoon. The harpoon design, according to IAI officials, is reliable, compact and especially useful for rapid deployment from within armored vehicles, through narrow windows or from moving vehicles.Read the full story >> More Israel News