Ukrainian Armed Forces to receive American ScanEagle drones

The Armed Forces of Ukraine will receive American ScanEagle unmanned aircraft systems.

Reconnaissance drones are included in a new military aid package from the United States.

On August 19, U.S. President Joe Biden authorized additional aid to Ukraine using his presidential authority to transfer surplus weapons from U.S. Army stockpiles.

While it was reported about the transfer of 15 ScanEagle drones, it remains unclear whether it’s about complexes or the total number of UAVs.

ScanEagle is an American unmanned aerial vehicle designed by Insitu, which is a subsidiary of Boeing. It was created on the basis of the SeaScan UAV, a commercial drone designed to monitor fish.

The main task of drones is to provide reconnaissance from the air and help in the adjustment of artillery and other weapons.

The endurance of the drone can reach up to 24+ hours, depending on the configuration of the system, the flight range is 100 kilometers. The drone can reach speeds of up to 139 km/h.

Size and weight of UAV according to manufacturer’s data:

• Maximum takeoff weight: 26.5 kg
• Maximum payload weight: 5 kg
• Length: 1.71 m
• Wingspan: 3.1 m

The drone can be equipped with infrared or conventional cameras, installed in the nose of the UAV and can rotate.

The ScanEagle complex includes a SkyWedge pneumatic launching system, a Sky Hook landing device, and a control post that have small dimensions.

The landing is carried out using proprietary SkyHook technology, which means an aircraft in the air on the fly clings to a cable hanging from a 30-meter mast.

These drones are operated in more than 20 countries around the world.