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Sky Lark
SKYLARK® family - The Skylark® family comprises electrically-propelled and highly-covert, close range UAV systems, including the revolutionary Skylark®II and the operational, mini-UAV Skylark® I. These UAV systems provide Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition and Reconnaissance (ISTAR) capabilities to all echelons. The Skylark® UAV systems support open area as well as urban warfare scenarios for wartime, peace keeping, low intensity conflict and security applications.
Skylark® I - This mini man-pack UAV system is well suited for very close range, beyond-the-hill missions. The system is especially designed for counter-terror applications. Performance-proven in cloudy, rainy and windy weather conditions, Skylark® I has demonstrated excellent optical survey, target identification and surveillance capabilities. Hand-launched, Skylark® I can be used for both defense and homeland security applications including perimeter security, border and coastal surveillance, anti-terrorism surveillance and a variety of law enforcement missions. Skylark® I has already been procured by defense and homeland security authorities of numerous countries.
Skylark®II – A close range tactical UAV, the Skylark®II is designed for day, night and adverse weather observation, data collection and target marking at mission ranges exceeding 50 kilometers. The unique Skylark® II equipped with a silent, electronic engine, is designed to operate in the battlefield using highly deployable HUMVEE class field vehicles equipped with an integral launcher for point launch and recovery and an advanced dual station Ground Control Station. The advanced UAV is highly autonomous and offers extensive mission centric capabilities including all of the Hermes® family heritage flight and mission modes.
Skylark I Miniature Aerial vehicle
Elbit Systems (Israel)
Elbit has developed the Skylark miniature UAVs, a manpacked system designed for tactical close-range surveillance and reconnaissance missions, artillery fire adjustments as well as force protection and perimeter security.
The mini UAV is quickly assembled before the mission and is launched by hand. Recovery is performed by a deep stall maneuver, which lands the vehicle safely on a small inflatable cushion, at a pre-designated point. the cushion is designed to protect the payload on landing. The entire mission is flown autonomously, feeding real-time continuous video and telemetry data to the portable ruggedized ground station. Its wings and tail surfaces are constructed of a lightweight composites, the fuselage tubular boom is also made of composites. The avionics and payload systems are contained in a pod carried below the boom. The gimbaled payload utilizes a daylight CCD or an optional FLIR for night operation, which can be rotated by four gimbals. In February 2004 Elbit won an IDF Ground Forces Command contract to supply the Skylark for evaluation and testing as an organic UAV system, to be operated by infantry units. Skylark has since entered operational service with selected IDF units, used for operational testing and doctrine development and evaluation. During the Second Lebanon war in July-August 2006, Skylark mini-UAVs were operated by IDF units performing close-in reconnaissance missions in support of the ground forces, providing valuable real-time intelligence, due to their low acoustic and visual signatures, Skylarks were able to operate at very low altitude practically undetectable.
In 2005 the Australian MOD selected the Skylark to support the deployment of Australian forces in Iraq. Six systems were procured and deployed to Southern Iraq. In September, 2006 Thales Canada announced it has been selected by the Department of National Defence Land Forces to deliver a mini-UAV system based on Elbit’s Skylark technology.
Skylark IV uses a miniature gyro stabilized payload weighing only 500gr. The payload was developed by Elbit Systems specifically for MAV applications. It consists of a daylight color CCD. When fitted with night-camera, the payload's weight doubles to one kilogram. Payload-vehicle integration enables simple and intuitive operation in holding position, as the payload "looks" at a designated point while the UAV circles above to maintain a continuous cover, and camera guide, where the user designates a target or rout to be followed by the payload and aircraft. Image obtained by the camera are overlaid on the integrated map situational display.
The Skylark ground control console, a mobile fully integrated system utilizing a ruggedized laptop and customized controllers.