The Belgian Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition and Reconnaissance (ISTAR) Battalion in Heverlee, east of Brussels, presented its new RQ-11B Raven tactical mini unmanned aerial system (UAS) on 31 August.
The Belgian Ravens will be operated by a platoon of the ISTAR Battalion. The platoon’s eight Raven systems are operated by three-person teams, ISTAR Battalion commander Lieutenant Colonel Bruno Van Loo explained. A Raven system consists of three unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and a ground station.
The first UAVs and trained operators are available and the entire platoon is scheduled to be ready for operational deployment at the end of the year. Lt Col Van Loo said the Ravens will be available to support company-level manoeuvre units as well as platoons of the ISTAR Battalion itself.
The Belgian Raven systems were procured jointly with a reported four for Luxembourg.
Photo: Malek Azoug
Source: Jane’s 360