Non-Subscriber Extract
Argentine Army prepares to receive first tactical UAS
By Juan Manuel Barragan
01 November 2007
The Argentine Army is expected to receive its first tactical unmanned aerial system (UAS) in December, consisting of three Lipan M3 unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), a ground control station and support elements.
The Lipan is the end result of a programme that began in 1996.
The UAS has a range of 40 km; the Lipan M3 UAV has a maximum take-off weight of 60 kg, can carry a payload of 20 kg and has an endurance of three hours. Typical payloads for the platform are a charge-coupled device camera and forward-looking infrared camera.
The first system is expected to enter service with the Destacamento de Inteligencia de Combate (Combat Intelligence Detachment) 601.