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.
(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.
✓Unmanned Capability
Aircraft inherently designed (or later developed) with an unmanned capability to cover a variety of over-battlefield roles.
Length
11.6 ft (3.55 m)
Width/Span
15.1 ft (4.60 m)
Empty Wgt
66 lb (30 kg)
MTOW
132 lb (60 kg)
Wgt Diff
+66 lb (+30 kg)
(Showcased structural values pertain to the base Lipan M3 production variant)
monoplane / shoulder-mounted / straight
Monoplane
Design utilizes a single primary wing mainplane; this represent the most popular mainplane arrangement.
Shoulder-Mounted
Mainplanes are mounted at the upper section of the fuselage, generally at the imaginary line intersecting the pilot's shoulders.
Straight
The planform involves use of basic, straight mainplane members.
(Structural descriptors pertain to the base Lipan M3 production variant)
Installed:
1 x Engine driving a two-bladed propeller unit in pusher configuration.
M3 - Base Series Designation.
XM4 - Enhanced model with increased automatic function.
"Guardian" - Argentine Navy project.
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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Argentina; Egypt
