The RQ-15 "Neptune" MUAV landing on a water surface
Developed by DRS Technologies, the RQ-15 Neptune is a six feet long Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) that can land on water in its hull like boat. The ability to land over water is unmatched for UAVs and this gives the Neptune an edge over all its competitors. Like the RQ-7 “Shadow” and the Boeing ScanEagle, it can be launched through a conventional catapult system as well. It has the capability to land over a short distance and can be landed on a skid as well. It weighs only 135 pounds and the rails allow for a launch within minutes.
The “R” stands for reconnaissance and “Q” stands for Unmanned Aerial Vehicle in DoD terms, hence it is not meant to attack. The main aim of this aircraft is to give commanders in the battlefield the flexibility to land the UAV in all terrains and it is formally referred to as a Marine UAV or MUAV. The Neptune is powered by 15hp (11KW) engine, that is mounted at the top to prevent water damage.
The RQ-15 on display
With an endurance of 4 hours and a top speed of a 100mph, the MUAV is not lightning fast but its on board imaging system allow vehicular detection at ranges of over 5 kilometers and human interaction at 600 meters. It also has a state of the art Autonomous integrated Digital Autopilot System that handles 100 hundred way points at one time and updates flight plans accordingly.
The launcher is mobile as well and the case is used to carry the 7 foot wingspan aircraft. The high tech collapsible wings allow dis assembly into three pieces, which makes the MUAV more mobile and easy to transport.
A video of the MAUV on display at the US Navy UAV Demo :
Manufacturer’s Page : DRS Technologies
