The FlyEye Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) is described as a low-cost mini UAV intended for various unarmed over-battlefield roles. The aircraft is a product of Poland's WB Electronics, being entirely designed, developed, produced locally. The FlyEye has the ability to survey key areas, reconnoiter enemy-held positions, and assist accuracy in ranged artillery strikes by "calling out" targets for gunnery crews. The system is designed to be hand-launched and recoverable, needing no additional, expensive support equipment to function. Portability is enhanced by the UAVs ability to break down into two key components for travel - allowing it to be very useful at the squad level.
The FlyEye comes equipped with a dual daily and thermal camera fit and this is held in the belly of the aircraft. At the nose is a multi-bladed propeller unit driven by an onboard motor. The wing mainplanes are set over the body of the aircraft and the tail is a simple tubular assembly capped at its aft end by a single vertical tailfin. Atop the tailfin is a horizontal plane.
The FlyEye is recovered by the operating crew. It protects its critical payload by ejecting these components prior to landing. Landing is accomplished via a glide mode initiated by the operator (an operating crew of two is typical). The glide mode is also useful during regular operation as it reduces the noise signature of the mini-UAV. Set-up time to get the FlyEye airborne is just ten minutes.
Operational ranges, under radio link control, reach 50 kilometers while autonomous flight beyond this reaches out to 200 kilometers. Its service ceiling is 4,000 meters and the air vehicle can stay airborne for three hours. The listed take-off weight is 12 kilograms. Dimensions include a length of 1.5 meters and a wingspan of 3.6 meters.
The Polish Army is a key operator of the FlyEye. In May of 2014, a FlyEye was lost during artillery drills when it became unresponsive. It was found three days later.
(OPERATORS list includes past, present, and future operators when applicable)
✓Intelligence-Surveillance-Reconnaissance (ISR), Scout
Surveil ground targets / target areas to assess environmental threat levels, enemy strength, or enemy movement.
✓Special Forces
Serving Special Forces / Special Operations elements and missions.
✓Unmanned Capability
Aircraft inherently designed (or later developed) with an unmanned capability to cover a variety of over-battlefield roles.
Length
4.9 ft (1.50 m)
Width/Span
11.8 ft (3.60 m)
MTOW
26 lb (12 kg)
(Showcased structural values pertain to the base WB Electronics FlyEye production variant)
Installed:
1 x Motor driving a three-bladed propeller at the nose.
None. Mission equipment includes cameras and other related Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance (ISR) equipment.
FlyEye - Base Series Name
Ribbon graphics not necessarily indicative of actual historical campaign ribbons. Ribbons are clickable to their respective aerial campaigns / operations / aviation periods.
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