Elbit Skylark Explained

The Elbit Systems Skylark I and Skylark II are miniature UAVs developed by Elbit Systems. Initial models of the Skylark entered service in 2008.

Design and development

Skylark I

The Skylark I is a Miniature UAV. It is designed as a manpacked system for tactical surveillance and reconnaissance. The Skylark is launched by hand. The payload consists of a daylight CCD or optional FLIR for night operations. During operation, it sends real-time video to a portable ground station. Recovery involves a deep stall maneuver, landing on a small inflatable cushion. It has a range of 20/40 km.

The Skylark is in operation with the armed forces of Croatia, Czech Republic, Hungary, Israel, Macedonia, Myanmar, Netherlands, Poland, Slovakia, and Sweden. It has been deployed in Afghanistan and Iraq.[1] The Skylark I has also been selected by France's special forces (Commando Parachutiste de l'Air n° 10) in March 2008.[2] [3] Previous operators who have now retired the system include Australia and Canada. In total, it has been selected by more than 20 operators worldwide.[4]

Skylark II

The Skylark II was unveiled in 2006. It has a range of 60 km and is designed to be operated by a two-person crew and to be deployed using HMMWV-class field vehicles. In December 2007, South Korea decided to purchase the Skylark II system.[5] Israel planned to bring the Skylark II into service by mid-2013.[6]

Skylark 3

In February 2016, Elbit Systems unveiled the Skylark 3 unmanned air system, revealing it had already gained selection by an undisclosed customer. The Skylark 3 is intended to support brigade and division-level units, having a 4.8 m (15.7 ft) wingspan and a maximum take-off weight of 45 kg (99 lb) with a 10kg (20lb) payload. It is deployed from a pneumatic launcher on the ground or mounted on a vehicle, with an operating range of more than 54nmi, a service ceiling of 15000feet, and flight endurance of up to 6 hours. Two air vehicles can be operated simultaneously using a shared ground control station.[7]

Operational history

The Skylark entered operational service in 2008, and began being used in large quantities for high-tempo support of ground forces during Operation Protective Edge which began on 8 July 2014. Every active and reserve brigade received at least two air vehicles and flew them continuously, sometimes both vehicles at the same time. By August 12, some 18 systems had flown several hundred hours, generating intelligence and streaming target-acquisition data to soldiers on the ground.[8]

On 21 December 2014, Syrian sources claimed a Skylark UAV crashed in Quneitra Governorate during a reconnaissance mission; however, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said that they had no knowledge of an UAV in that area at the time. It was not clear if the UAV had crashed or was shot down but photos of the drone were released later.[9]

On 12 August 2015, Al-Qassam Brigades of Hamas claimed that they had captured a Skylark I and reused it for their own missions. The drone was captured on 22 July 2015 by one of their special commando units, and technically checked to make sure it was not booby-trapped.[10]

On 20 March 2017, the Syrian Defense Ministry claimed a Skylark had been shot down and captured on the outskirts of Quneitra.[11] The drone went down due to human error by the troops who were flying it, IDF officials said.[12]

During the 2023 Israel–Hamas war, Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad, reportedly captured at least two Skylark drones.[13] [14]

Operators

Current operators

Former operators

Specifications

Skylark I

Man Packed Hand Launched Over the Hill Mini UAV[23] [24]

Skylark I-LEX

Skylark I-LEX is a new generation, man-portable, electric-propelled, mini unmanned aerial system (UAS).[25]

Skylark C

Skylark C is a shipborne mini UAS designed for patrol boats and small vessel operations.[26] [27] [28]

Skylark II UAV

The Skylark II is a close-range tactical unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) system.

Skylark 3

Skylark 3 is a tactical mini UAV system (UAS) optimized for both dismounted and vehicle-based operation[29] [30]

Skylark 3 Hybrid

Skylark 3 Hybrid is a Long Endurance Tactical Mini UAS[31]

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Shifting trends: Special forces equipment . Janes.com. https://web.archive.org/web/20080602005034/http://www.janes.com/news/defence/systems/jdw/jdw080512_1_n.shtml . 2008-06-02 . dead.
  2. Web site: To gain autonomy, the Air Parachute Commando n ° 10 designs the CORVUS, its own mini-drone. 2018-08-25. 2021-02-28. opex360.com.
  3. http://www.elbitsystems.com/data/ESLT_Skylark_France.pdf
  4. Web site: Uruguay seeks Elbit Skylark UAV deal. 16 November 2015. Flightglobal.com. 26 June 2017.
  5. Web site: South Korea chooses Israeli-made unmanned surveillance plane. . - Haaretz - Israel News . 2007-12-27 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20071219133259/http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/935471.html . 2007-12-19 .
  6. https://archive.today/20130410181320/http://dmilt.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=5937:israel-army-prepares-to-induct-skylark-2-uav-&catid=3:asia&Itemid=56 Israel; Army prepares to induct Skylark 2 UAV
  7. https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/elbit-unveils-skylark-3-uav-421873/ Elbit unveils Skylark 3 UAV
  8. https://archive.today/20140816153231/http://www.defensenews.com/article/20140812/DEFREG04/308120026/Israeli-Forces-Praise-Elbit-UAVs-Gaza-Op Israeli Forces Praise Elbit UAVs in Gaza Op
  9. News: Syria says shot down Israeli drone over Quneitra. 2021-04-08. Haaretz. en.
  10. http://english.palinfo.com/site/pages/details.aspx?itemid=73001 Al-Qassam Brigades captures Israeli drone last month
  11. News: Israeli drone shot down by Syria forces. The Times of Israel. March 21, 2017. March 22, 2017.
  12. News: Initial investigation findings point to human error in IDF drone crash. Ynetnews. 22 March 2017 . 26 June 2017. Zitun . Yoav .
  13. https://english.alarabiya.net/News/middle-east/2023/11/15/Islamic-Jihad-says-shot-down-Israeli-Skylark-drone-in-Gaza
  14. https://www.msn.com/en-ae/news/featured/al-qassam-downs-second-israeli-drone-in-24-hours-and-targets-5-merkava-tanks/ar-AA1ma59t
  15. Web site: Mitzer . Stijn . Oliemans . Joost . Death From Above - Azerbaijan's Killer Drone Arsenal . Oryx . 29 December 2021.
  16. Web site: "The Silent Sparrowhawk". 2014-04-08. 2021-02-28. honvedelem.hu. hu.
  17. Web site: 2020-06-26. Arakan Army Seizes Three Soldiers' Sons in Western Myanmar. 2020-09-24. The Irrawaddy. en-US.
  18. Web site: AA. ULA /. 2020-06-27. Three sons of soldiers from Myanmar Army, came to collect the UAS drone were Captured by Arakan Army. 2020-09-24. ARAKAN ARMY. en.
  19. Web site: An Israel Made Drone Is Seized by Arakan Army and Arrested 3 Family Members of Myanmar Army While Looking for the Drone. 2020-09-24.
  20. Web site: Israeli Elbit To Build Drones In Poland. 2006-09-05.
  21. Web site: Slovak Special Forces purchased Elbit's Skylark I-LEX. 2017-02-20. 2021-02-28. israeldefense.co.il.
  22. Web site: Mitzer . Stijn . Turkmenistan's Path To Drone Power . Oryx Blog . 14 February 2022.
  23. Web site: Skylark Man Packed Over the Hill Mini UAV . https://web.archive.org/web/20050113142830/http://elbitsystems.com/data/Skylark(1).pdf . 2005-01-13 . dead.
  24. Web site: Elbit page on Skylark I . https://web.archive.org/web/20070926235823/http://www.elbitsystems.com/lobmainpage.asp?id=764 . 2007-09-26 . dead.
  25. Web site: Skylark I-LEX . https://archive.today/20210816155346/https://elbitsystems.com/products/uas/skylark-i-lex/ . 2021-08-16 . live . 2021-08-16 .
  26. Web site: Skylark C . https://archive.today/20210816161333/https://elbitsystems.com/product/skylark-c/ . 2021-08-16 . live . 2021-08-16 .
  27. Web site: Elbit Systems Introduces Skylark C . https://archive.today/20210816162115/https://elbitsystems.com/pr-new/elbit-systems-introduces-skylark-c/ . 2021-08-16 . live . 2021-08-16 .
  28. Web site: Skylark C Shipborne Mini UAS . https://web.archive.org/web/20170918224025/https://elbitsystems.com/media/SKYLARK_C_2016.pdf . 2017-09-18 . dead.
  29. Web site: Skylark 3 . https://archive.today/20210816154840/https://elbitsystems.com/product/skylark-3/ . 2021-08-16 . live . 2021-08-16 .
  30. Web site: Skylark 3 Field Deployed Tactical ISTAR UAS . https://web.archive.org/web/20180517070838/https://elbitsystems.com/media/SKYLARK-3_2016.pdf . 2018-05-17 . live.
  31. Web site: Skylark 3 Hybrid Long Endurance Tactical Mini UAS . https://web.archive.org/web/20210816164335/https://elbitsystems.com/media/SKYLARK-3-Hybrid.pdf . 2021-08-16 . live.

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