Elbit Skylark

2006 MODERN AIRCRAFT DRONE TECHNOLOGY

• 1 The Elbit Lark Story
• 2 Elbit Skylark Specification
  • 2.1 Basic
  • 2.2 Production
  • 2.3 Roles
  • 2.4 Dimensions
  • 2.5 WEIGHTS
  • 2.6 POWER
  • 2.7 PERFORMANCE
  • 2.8 ARMAMENT
  • 2.9 VARIANTS

The Elbit Lark Story

Israel's Elbit Systems produces its Skylark family of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) as portable surveillance and reconnaissance systems. The type was developed through a joint initiative of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) Technical and Logistics Department and Ground Forces. Due to its sheer size, the system can be deployed at the squad level, providing fire brigade allies with rapid response, real-time processing and "eyes in the sky" that can be used to identify potential threats or patrol areas of the enemy during operations. Skylark has evolved into two distinct forms - the original Skylark I and its successor Skylark 2 with enhanced tactical capabilities. Elbit Systems was founded in 1967 and is headquartered in Haifa, Israel.

It started out primarily in electronics and communications, then moved into unmanned systems and employs around 12,300 people worldwide.

As a portable system, the Skylark can be transported and launched manually with relative ease - eliminating the more complicated and expensive catapult launch method used on larger drone types. The design includes a conventional aircraft layout with a central nacelle containing the necessary fuel storage, engines and payload, and a conventional tail.

The Skylark uses a straight wing attachment with a slight forward sweep in the midspan (this is mainly noticeable on the trailing edge). The wings are mounted high on the fuselage to avoid belly-mounted cabin camera equipment. The tail consists of a vertical tail located in front of the horizontal stabilizer.

The Skylark design has no landing gear, as recovery is achieved by stalling, which produces a slow and controlled free fall while the system safely lands on a pre-inflated pad. to 10 kilometers (about 6.2 miles). The onboard engine manages a two-bladed propeller system, mounted in a "puller" configuration at the front of the design.

Since the main task of the lark is observation, the system is equipped with a real-time camera for daylight operation, but can also be equipped with thermal imagers and electro-optical/infrared sensors. This allows the Skylark system to perform in low light conditions with the same zeal as daytime operation.

This guide is supported for in-vehicle GPS installations. The vision system transmits data to a maintenance ground control station (GCS) managed by the launch crew.

The Lark II system (also known as "Lark II") is an advanced version of the Lark family of drones. Elbit first introduced the Skylark II in 2006 and improved its range to 60 kilometers (37 miles) with a flight time of about six hours. The aircraft is designed to operate in a low to medium altitude role and management will be managed by two specially trained operators using the GCS of the HMMWV High Mobility Vehicle (HUMVEE).

Its overall design configuration is the same as the original Skylark 1 series, including the payload area below.

The Skylark II is scheduled to serve in the Israel Defense Forces in late 2013 in an intelligence-gathering role. Skylark 2 will eventually serve in a support role in every IDF battalion.

The Skylark family of UAVs are widely used in the Armed Forces of Australia, Canada, Croatia, Czech Republic, France, Hungary, Israel (Skylark I and II), Macedonia, Netherlands, Poland, Slovakia and South Korea (Skylark II) and Sweden . Drones have already conducted combat operations in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Elbit Skylark Specification

Basic

Production

Roles

Dimensions

WEIGHTS

POWER

PERFORMANCE

ARMAMENT

VARIANTS