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Surveillance: Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) are used by the U.S. military to glean intelligence on enemy forces. The UAVs can transmit data, fulfilling roles in missions considered too dangerous for manned aircraft.
Black Widow
The Black Widow is a short-distance micro-air vehicle that transmits images via radio frequency to ground-control unit.
| Entered service: In testing |
| Length: 6 inches |
| Wingspan: 6 inches |
| Ceiling: 769 feet |
| Speed: 43 mph |
| Range: Less than one nautical mile |
| Endurance: 30 minutes |
Hunter
The Hunter is an unmanned aerial vehicle that provides near real-time imagery of ground forces in both day and night. Each aircraft is intended to operate with additional Hunter UAVs.
| Entered service: 1995 |
| Length: 23 feet |
| Wingspan: 29 feet |
| Ceiling: 15,000 feet |
| Speed: 122 mph |
| Range: 144 nautical miles |
| Endurance: 12 hours |
Predator
The Predator is an unmanned aerial vehicle that provides high-resolution video, infrared, and radar imagery in real-time via satellite. Built-in lasers can provide targeting for laser-guided bombs.
| Entered service: 1994 |
| Length: 26 feet, 8 inches |
| Wingspan: 48 feet, 5 inches |
| Ceiling: 26,000 feet |
| Speed: 138 mph |
| Range: 500 nautical miles |
| Endurance: 29 hours |
Global Hawk
The Global Hawk, a high-altitude, long-range, fully automatic unmanned aerial vehicle, provides high-resolution imagery in real-time via satellite.
| Entered service: 1997 |
| Length: 44 feet, 5 inches |
| Wingspan: 116 feet, 2 inches |
| Ceiling: 67,300 feet |
| Speed: 397 mph |
| Range: 3,000 nautical miles |
| Endurance: 42 hours |