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United States AeroVironment
RQ-11 Raven
A small, hand-launched reconnaissance drone that became the US Army and Marine Corps' standard squad-level ISR system, providing over-the-hill situational awareness for dismounted units. One of the most widely fielded small UAVs in the world.
In service since 2003 · 25 operator countries
Compiled from public sources ·primary reference ↗ ·last verified 2026-07-02
95
km/h
10
km range
4,600
m ceiling
💲 ≈ $35,000, This figure represents the cost of a single Raven air vehicle. A complete fielded system, which includes three aircraft, two ground control stations, and spares, runs closer to $250,000.
Procurement snapshot
Availability & export
US ITAR-controlled
Export needs U.S. State Dept (DDTC) approval; end-use & re-transfer restrictions apply.
Channel: Foreign Military Sales (FMS) or Direct Commercial Sale
Fielded & proven
Widely fielded · 25 operators
In service since 2003. Status: active · ~19,000 built.
Lifecycle cost (est.)
$88K – $123K
Acquisition is only ~30% of lifecycle cost, operating & support dominate over ~20 yrs. Rough 2.5–3.5× the unit price. How we estimate this →
Interoperability
No standardised NATO calibre / datalink detected in public specs.
Derived guidance from public data, export regime by country of origin, lifecycle from the GAO ~30% acquisition rule. Verify eligibility, pricing and offsets with the manufacturer and your acquisition authority.
Full specifications
Performance
Speed, range, altitude and engagement capability.
| Max speed Maximum level speed. For aircraft this is at optimal altitude; for ground vehicles, top road speed. Higher means faster response and better kinematic performance. | 95 km/h |
|---|---|
| Cruise speed Sustained economical speed. Determines transit time to station. | 45 km/h |
| Range Maximum distance: ferry range for aircraft, operational range for vehicles, maximum engagement distance for missiles. Higher means more standoff or persistence. | 10 km |
| Service ceiling Maximum operating altitude. Higher gives energy advantage and sensor horizon. | 4,600 m |
| Endurance Time on station. Critical for UAVs and patrol platforms, higher means longer persistent coverage. | 1.3 h |
Physical
Dimensions, weight and crew.
| Length Overall length including gun/probe where applicable. | 1.1 m |
|---|---|
| Wingspan Wingtip-to-wingtip span. | 1.4 m |
| Combat weight Fully loaded weight. Lighter eases transport and bridging limits; heavier often means more armor. | 2 kg |
| Crew Personnel required to operate. Fewer reduces exposure; autoloaders trade a loader for mechanical complexity. | 0 |
Propulsion
Engine, power and fuel.
| Propulsion type Turbofan, turboshaft, diesel, gas turbine, solid-fuel rocket, ramjet… | Electric motor, pusher propeller, hand-launched |
|---|
Sensors & avionics
Radar, sensor suite and datalinks.
| Sensors IRST, EO/IR turrets, laser designators, sniper pods, thermal sights. | Electro-optical/infrared camera payload |
|---|---|
| Datalink Network connectivity: Link 16, MADL, national datalinks. Enables cooperative engagement. | LOS datalink |
Program
Cost, production scale and operators.
| Unit cost Approximate flyaway/unit cost where public. Defense pricing varies hugely by contract, offsets and configuration. Lower is cheaper. | $35,000 |
|---|---|
| Units built Total production run. Higher means proven manufacturing, mature logistics and spares availability. | 19,000 |
| Operator countries Number of countries operating the system. More operators means broader support ecosystem. | 25 |
Specifications compiled from public AeroVironment and reference sources ↗. Published defense figures are approximations, treat comparisons as directional. Last verified 2026-07-02.
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RQ-11 Raven vs
CH-5 (Caihong-5) Frequently asked questions
What is the top speed of the AeroVironment RQ-11 Raven? +
The AeroVironment RQ-11 Raven has a maximum speed of 95 km/h.
What is the range of the AeroVironment RQ-11 Raven? +
The AeroVironment RQ-11 Raven has a maximum range of 10 km.
How much does the AeroVironment RQ-11 Raven weigh? +
The AeroVironment RQ-11 Raven has a combat weight of 2 kg.
How many crew does the AeroVironment RQ-11 Raven require? +
The AeroVironment RQ-11 Raven requires a crew of 0.
What is the AeroVironment RQ-11 Raven used for? +
The AeroVironment RQ-11 Raven is a uav / drone typically used for isr.
How many countries operate the AeroVironment RQ-11 Raven? +
The AeroVironment RQ-11 Raven is operated by 25 countries.
How much does the AeroVironment RQ-11 Raven cost? +
The AeroVironment RQ-11 Raven has an approximate unit cost of 35,000 USD. Defense pricing varies by contract, offsets and configuration, treat this as directional.
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