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.
Note: The above text is EXCLUSIVE to the site www.MilitaryFactory.com. It is the product of many hours of research and work made possible with the help of contributors, veterans, insiders, and topic specialists. If you happen upon this text anywhere else on the internet or in print, please let us know at MilitaryFactory AT gmail DOT com so that we may take appropriate action against the offender / offending site and continue to protect this original work.
(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.
(Showcased performance specifications pertain to the base Lipan M3 production variant. Performance specifications showcased above are subject to environmental factors as well as aircraft configuration. Estimates are made when Real Data not available. Compare this aircraft entry against any other in our database or View aircraft by powerplant type)
None. Mission equipment supporting the ISR role.
Supported Types
(Not all ordnance types may be represented in the showcase above)
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.
The "Military Factory" name and MilitaryFactory.com logo are registered ® U.S. trademarks protected by all applicable domestic and international intellectual property laws. All written content, illustrations, and photography are unique to this website (unless where indicated) and not for reuse/reproduction in any form. Material presented throughout this website is for historical and entertainment value only and should not to be construed as usable for hardware restoration, maintenance, or general operation. We do not sell any of the items showcased on this site. Please direct all other inquiries to militaryfactory AT gmail.com.
Part of a network of sites that includes GlobalFirepower, a data-driven property used in ranking the top military powers of the world, WDMMA.org (World Directory of Modern Military Aircraft), WDMMW.org (World Directory of Modern Military Warships), SR71blackbird.org, detailing the history of the world's most iconic spyplane, and MilitaryRibbons.info, cataloguing all American military medals and ribbons.
Argentina; Egypt
