Air system · Hand-Launched Small UAS
RQ-11 Raven
Short-Range Tactical ISR / Route Reconnaissance
Also known as: Raven B / AeroVironment Raven / RQ-11B
RQ-11 Raven overview
RQ-11 Raven is AeroVironment's hand-launched electric reconnaissance UAV for small units.
Raven variants use EO or IR payloads and assisted navigation, but specifications differ between versions and exact fielded configurations are Not publicly disclosed here.
It became one of the most widely deployed military small UAS, with U.S. and allied use in Iraq, Afghanistan, Ukraine, and other theaters; widespread use does not imply identical equipment.
Through September 2026, Raven remains a foundational tactical ISR system with no standard weapon. The supplied image is catalog artwork rather than a scale drawing.
Armament
None; EO/IR reconnaissance payload
Development and operational timeline
- RQ-11 Raven enters U.S. military service as a hand-launched small UAS
- Raven B becomes widely associated with deployed U.S. and allied tactical units
- RQ-11 remains a widely recognized unarmed tactical reconnaissance platform