- AeroVironment adds VTOL, hover, perch and stare capability to battle-proven family of small unmanned aircraft systems (Raven, Wasp, Puma AE)
- Enables frontline military and non-military missions requiring vertical launches and landings without additional infrastructure
- Operated by AeroVironment’s common Ground Control System to ensure ease of use and acceptance
- Result of more than four years of DARPA-funded research and development to create a portable, stealthy, persistent perch and stare capability
Through a contract from DARPA (the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency) to develop a portable, stealthy, persistent perch and stare (SP2S) unmanned aircraft system AeroVironment, Inc.'s lightweight and man-portable Shrike VTOL unmanned aircraft system represents the conclusion of this development effort.
Designed to address the need for a small, light-weight hovering aircraft that delivers surveillance and intelligence capability not provided by current solutions. Not only does Shrike VTOL hover for more than 40 minutes with a high resolution video camera, but its innovative design also allows for the transmission of several hours of live video as a remotely emplaced perch and stare sensor.
Operating quietly enough to go virtually undetected, Shrike weighs approximately five pounds and is small enough to fit in a backpack.
