Lipan M3

Intellgence-Surveillance-Reconnaissance (ISR) Drone

Argentina | 2014

"The Lipan M3 is a wholly-indigenous ISR UAV design originating out of Argentina."

Authored By: Staff Writer | Last Edited: 12/03/2021 | Content ©www.MilitaryFactory.com | The following text is exclusive to this site; No A.I. was used in the generation of this content.

The Lipan M3 is an Unmanned Air System (UAS) developed by Ejercito Argentino of Argentina for the Intelligence-Surveillance-Reconnaissance (ISR) role. The type represents the first such UAS to be developed in South America. The design is of highly-conventional form and function and has been adopted by the Argentina Army as well as the Air Force and Army of Egypt.

The air vehicle utilizes proven traits including a shoulder-mounted straight monoplane mainplane arrangement, twin-boom tail unit, and wheeled (non-retracting) tricycle undercarriage. The tail unit terminates in inward-canted vertical tailplanes rounding out the necessary control scheme. The fuselage, housing pertinent mission equipment and the powerplant, is of slab-sided design with a sloping nose section. The engine is used to drive a two-bladed propeller unit arranged in pusher fashion.

Performance specifications include a maximum speed of 105 miles-per-hour with a range out to 25 miles and a mission endurance window of five hours. The aircraft can operate up to altitudes of 6,500 feet. Structural dimensions include an overall length of 11.6 feet and wingspan reach of 15 feet.

This UAS can be operate by manual control (take-off and landing actions) and through automation with in-air direction given to the machine via preset waypoints. The "XM4" represents a more evolved variant of the Lipan III design with the prime modification being enhanced autonomy to include both take-off and landing actions. Another offshoot if the "Guardian" for the Argentine Navy which is slower and flies lower but features increased operational range.

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Power & Performance
Those special qualities that separate one aircraft design from another. Performance specifications presented assume optimal operating conditions for the Lipan M3 Intellgence-Surveillance-Reconnaissance (ISR) Drone.

1 x Engine driving a two-bladed propeller unit in pusher configuration.
Propulsion

106 mph
170 kph | 92 kts
Max Speed

6,562 ft
2,000 m | 1 miles
Service Ceiling

25 miles
40 km | 22 nm
Operational Range

City-to-City Ranges
Operational range when compared to distances between major cities (in KM).

NYC

LON

PAR

BER

MOS

TOK

SYD

LAX

NYC

Structure
The nose-to-tail, wingtip-to-wingtip physical qualities of the Lipan M3 Intellgence-Surveillance-Reconnaissance (ISR) Drone.

0
(UNMANNED)
Crew

11.6 ft
3.55 m
O/A Length

15.1 ft
(4.60 m)
O/A Width

66 lb
(30 kg)
Empty Weight

132 lb
(60 kg)
MTOW

Design Balance
The three qualities reflected below are altitude, speed, and range. The more full the box, the more balanced the design.

RANGE

ALT

SPEED

Armament
Available supported armament and special-mission equipment featured in the design of the Lipan M3 Intellgence-Surveillance-Reconnaissance (ISR) Drone .

None. Mission equipment supporting the ISR role.

Variants
Notable series variants as part of the Lipan M3 family line.

M3 - Base Series Designation.

XM4 - Enhanced model with increased automatic function.

"Guardian" - Argentine Navy project.

Operators
Global customers who have evaluated and/or operated the Lipan M3. Nations are displayed by flag, each linked to their respective national aircraft listing.

Total Production: 150 Units
Contractor(s): Ejercito Argentino - Argentina

[ Argentina; Egypt ]

Relative Max Speed

Hi: 120mph

Lo: 60mph

Aircraft Max Listed Speed (106mph).

Graph Average of 90 MPH.

Era Crossover

Showcasing Aircraft Era Crossover (if any)

Max Alt Visualization

Production Comparison

150

36183

44000

Entry compared against Ilyushin IL-2 (military) and Cessna 172 (civilian) total production.

MACH Regime (Sonic)

Sub

Trans

Super

Hyper

HiHyper

ReEntry

♦

Aviation Timeline

EarlyYrs

WWI

Interwar

WWII

ColdWar

Postwar

Modern

Future

♦

Mission Roles
Some designs are single-minded in their approach while others offer a more versatile solution to airborne requirements.

RECONNAISSANCE

UNMANNED

Recognition
Some designs stand the test of time while others are doomed to never advance beyond the drawing board; let history be their judge.

Military lapel ribbon representing modern aircraft

Going Further...
The Lipan M3 Intellgence-Surveillance-Reconnaissance (ISR) Drone appears in the following collections:

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