A small, battery operated unmanned aerial vehicle — called the Orbiter — was tested in a recent exercise and is now being marketed to the U.S. military.
In combat, soldiers could carry the small spy airplane and associated ground station gear in several backpacks.
The diminutive UAV was developed by Aeronautics Defense Systems of Israel and is being offered by AAI Corp. of Hunt Valley, Md.
The mini-unmanned aircraft system, which is less than 40 inches long, can fly for up to three hours and has a ceiling of 18,000 feet. It was developed to conduct intelligence and surveillance missions by a two-person team.
The manufacturer points out that the Orbiter — because of its electric propulsion — makes little noise in the air.