The IDF’s latest tactical weapon, the Skylark I-LE, is a miniature unmanned spying plane that can be launched by an infantry unit in the battlefield to see over hills up to 10 miles away. The 15 pound plane has a wingspan of about nine feet, is carried in a soldier’s backpack, and can be assembled and launched by a two-man team via catapult in less than 10 minutes. From there, a simple laptop computer system maneuvers the mini drone.
According to The Media Line report, the Skylark does not carry any weapons. Its payload is advanced optical and thermal imaging that can send high-resolution images directly to the field unit 24 hours a day, in light or darkness, enabling it to track enemy movements, problems with the terrain, or the presence of non-combatants on the battlefield. Each mini-Skylark costs about $50,000. Israeli manufacturer Elbit Systems says the tiny craft has already logged more than 3,000 operational missions with allied forces in Iraq and Afghanistan.