September10, 2008:
Israel has already sold its
new Skylark II "Battalion UAV" to South Korea and Canada, and many
other nations are expressing interest. The "Battalion UAV" is proving to be a very effective, useful and
popular new weight category for UAVs. This 95 pound, electric UAV has a 22
pound payload (day and night cameras and laser designator) and can be used up
to 50 kilometers from the ground operator, and as high as 15,000 feet (out of
small arms range). The Skylark II is launched via a catapult that can be
mounted on a hummer, or similar vehicle and can stay in the air for six hours
at a time. A hummer size vehicle can
carry two disassembled Skylark IIs and the ground control equipment. A two man
crew operates it.