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Boeing Insitu ScanEagle

2005 MODERN AIRCRAFT DRONE TECHNOLOGY

History of the Boeing Insitu ScanEagle

ScanEagle is a UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle) jointly produced by Boeing and Insitu Group. Overall, the program is largely based on the Insitu SeaScan drone, but combined with Boeing's expertise in aircraft systems engineering. ScanEagle has over 10,000 flight hours booked in the real world and has settled down as advertised.

ScanEagle is equipped with all-weather long-range reconnaissance and target tracking, with excellent loitering capabilities.

ScanEagle can be equipped with infrared or photoelectric cameras. Presenting and reporting conditions in real time, the system is capable of over 48 hours of flight time. The launch is made autonomously by the catapult system.

The landing is done with the "skyhook" method - an exercise in ScanEagle catching a rope attached to a specific location on a 50-foot mast.

Boeing products represent a cost-effective solution to potential related needs. The ScanEagle is designed for oceangoing vessel operations, so the proven catapult and hook retrieval system is exactly what the doctor ordered.

The small size also helps stow the system on naval vessels that already have limited clearance. The ScanEagle made its first flight in 2002, and the system is still going strong as it is used by the US Marine Corps and the US Navy to support operations in Iraq.

After Iran captured several Boeing ScanEagle drones during the U.S. heavily involved in neighboring Iraq, the Islamic State reverse-engineered the ScanEagle system and arranged for an assembly line to illegally mass-produce U.S. products for the Iranian Air Force and Navy.

ScanEagle's list of global operators has grown significantly over the years, with users reaching far beyond the US coast. This list includes Australia, Canada, Netherlands, Japan, Italy, Poland, Spain, UK, and more.

Yemen is also a recipient of U.S. products to help Gulf ally Yemen respond to internal and external threats.

Both Indonesia and the Philippines received two ScanEagle systems as part of the US counterterrorism program. Malaysia is licensed to use the ScanEagle 2 platform described elsewhere on this website.

April 2018 - ScanEagle is working towards becoming a standard SUAS system for the US Coast Guard. It competes with Textron's products. These will be transported on national security speedboats.

June 2018 - The U.S. Coast Guard has finally received approval for a deal with Insitu worth up to $117 million over eight years to operate ScanEagles on its cutting vessels.