RUAG Ranger

  • Switzerland Switzerland
  • Israel Israel
  • RUAG
  • Oerlikon Contraves
  • Israel Aircraft Industries

The Ranger (also reconnaissance drone system 95, shortly ADS 95 ) is a drone or a UAV (English unmanned aerial vehicle ) that (IAI ) has been developed since the 1980s by the Swiss armaments company RUAG Aviation, Oerlikon - Contraves and Israel Aircraft Industries.

Function

The Ranger drone is started automatically via the originating also from RUAG Archer Catapult.

It is controlled by the ( unmanned ) Remote Communication Terminal ( RCT) at the Ground Control Station (GCS ), which are connected via a fiber optic cable. The RCT provides two uplink connections for commands, one primary and one secondary as a backup. In contrast to the stationary control centers, for example, American Predator drones, the Ranger control units are on trucks and are therefore mobile.

In addition, there are so-called Mobile Receiving Units ( MRU), which enable reception of the data supplied by the Ranger drone in the transmission area and do not require installation on vehicles.

The Ranger Vehicle equipped with a MOSP Mark III multi-function camera that day vision, infrared image and a combination of both supplies.

The landing of the Rangers is also automatic: For this purpose, a so-called Autoland position sensor required (RAPS: Ranger Autoland position sensor ), which is also connected via optical cable to the GCS. From this there are two versions to measure the required landing data as azimuth, elevation and distance: uses an infrared laser transmitter and receiver. The emitted by the transmitter pulses are reflected by a reflector at the drone toward the receiver, thereby enabling the calculation of all required information. The other version measures a microwave radar.

The land system of the Rangers is a runner system that allows the landing on unpaved runways. However, there is also a version with wheeled undercarriage.

Use

The Ranger drone is in use with the Swiss Air Force as well as in the Finnish armed forces.

Since the ranger at least in Europe is the only such drone, which has a license to fly in civil airspace, the drone in Switzerland is increasingly being used for civilian tasks. For example, the Swiss Air Force in 2005 performed at the big flood in central Switzerland in favor of the crisis team exploration or assists in the Border Guard since 2006 in monitoring the Swiss border. In the city of Zurich, the use of drones during the European Football Championship 2008 to monitor the traffic and security situation was granted.

Due to the small silhouette and the associated reduced visibility by other pilots drone in Switzerland is accompanied in peacetime during the day by a small plane (usually Pilatus PC -6) or a helicopter ( Aérospatiale SA -319 Alouette III). These side missions called " OMBRA " flights; " Ombra " is also the nickname of the escort aircraft.

Specifications

  • Type: Tactical drone
  • Crew: 0
  • Dimensions Length: 4.61 m
  • Height: 1.13 m
  • Wingspan: 5.71 m
  • Maximum take-off weight: 275 kg
  • Payload: 40 kg
  • Number, type: 1x twin-cylinder two-stroke engine
  • Power: 45 hp / 31.5 kW
  • Flight performance Speed: 60-130 kt / 90-220 km / h
  • Service ceiling: 15,000 ft / 4500 m
  • Operational range: 100 km from leading ground control station
  • Flight duration about 4 hours with parachute
  • About 6 hours without a parachute
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