Elbit Skylark

The Elbit Systems Skylark is a family of miniature unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) designed for tactical surveillance and reconnaissance. The system entered operational service in 2008. The initial variant, the Skylark I, is a manpacked, hand-launched aircraft with a range of 20 to 40 km. It carries a daylight CCD or optional FLIR camera and transmits real-time video to a portable ground station. Recovery is achieved via a deep stall maneuver landing on an inflatable cushion. The larger Skylark II, unveiled in 2006, has a range of 60 km, is operated by a two-person crew, and is deployed from HMMWV-class field vehicles. Unveiled in 2016, the Skylark 3 supports brigade- and division-level units, featuring a 4.8 m wingspan, a 45 kg maximum takeoff weight, and a 10 kg payload. It is launched via a ground- or vehicle-mounted pneumatic launcher, has a range of over 100 km, and can operate for up to 6 hours.

During Israel's Operation Protective Edge in 2014, active and reserve brigades deployed the Skylark, with 18 systems accumulating several hundred flight hours for intelligence and target acquisition. Several Skylarks have been lost or captured during operations. In December 2014 and March 2017, Syrian sources claimed downing Skylark UAVs in the Quneitra region; the IDF attributed the 2017 loss to operator error. Hamas claimed the capture of a Skylark I in July 2015, and during the 2023 Gaza war, Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad reportedly captured at least two Skylark drones. One Myanmar Army Skylark I-LEX was captured by rebels in early 2020. Current operators of the Skylark family include Azerbaijan, the Czech Republic, France, Georgia, Honduras, Hungary, Israel, Macedonia, Mexico, the Netherlands, the Philippines, Poland, Serbia, Slovakia, South Korea, Sweden, Turkmenistan, and Uruguay. Australia and Canada previously operated the system but have since retired it.

Main Variants

• Skylark I: A manpacked, hand-launched mini UAV designed for over-the-hill tactical reconnaissance with a two-hour endurance.
• Skylark I-LEX: A man-portable, electric-propelled mini UAV with a 7.5 kg takeoff weight, a 40 km range, and a three-hour endurance.
• Skylark C: A shipborne mini UAV designed for tactical maritime and patrol boat operations with a five-hour endurance.
• Skylark II: A vehicle-deployed, close-range tactical UAV system powered by a 4 kW electric motor with a range of 50 km.
• Skylark 3: A vehicle or ground-launched tactical UAV with a 4.7 m wingspan designed for brigade and division-level support.