US firm unveils tiny handheld drone for soldiers

Developed by unmanned air systems (UAS) specialist Aerovironment, the so-called Snipe quadcopter, which weighs 140g, has been developed specifically for close-range intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions.

According to a statement issued by the firm, 20 of the drones were delivered to the US government in April.

Powered by rechargeable batteries that give it around 15 minutes of flight time, the tiny device is claimed to be capable of flight speeds of more than 20mph and has a range of over 1km.

What’s more, thanks to its quiet electric motors, it’s said to be difficult to detect in operating environments with even minimal ambient noise.

“Snipe’s tiny size belies its impressive capabilities,” said Kirk Flittie, AeroVironment vice president and general manager of its Unmanned Aircraft Systems business segment. “It is quick, quiet, fast, durable and packed with advanced features critical to helping our customers succeed in close-range missions.”

The aircraft is equipped with electro-optical/infrared (EO/IR), low-light-capable and long-wave infrared (LWIR) sensors and can relay high-resolution images and record real-time video both day and night.