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RANGER UAV System
RANGER UAV System
The System for utmost autonomy
Military missions
• Reconnaissance
• Surveillance
• Target acquisition
• Target designation
• Artillery adjustment
• Damage assessment
• Electronic warfare
• Electronic intelligence
• Radio relay missions
Civil applications
• Border and coast guard patrol
• Surveillance and monitoring of floods,
forest fires, earthquakes and volcanic
eruption
• Detection and monitoring of nuclear
radiation
• Law enforcement
• Earth and environmental surveys
• Traffic control
Deployment Concept
System Equipment
The concept illustrated represents the base-
line system configuration with full AUTO-
START/AUTOLAND capability.
The RANGER Configuration is based on a
modular concept which allows an exten-
sion of the mission capabilities.
Full mobility for rapid deployment and rede-
ployment is assured as all equipment is truck-
mounted.
RANGER is a reliable Swiss UAV system for daytime and night missions. Mission-specific
equipment, a skid system and mobile launcher guarantee high flexibility and maximum
autonomy under all conditions. RANGER has proved an outstanding success in Switzerland
and abroad thanks to its accuracy and durable quality. The system provides reliable infor-
mation for a wide range of applications.
• 3 – 6 Unmanned Air Vehicles (UAV)
• 1 Ground Control Station (GCS)
• 1 Remote Communication Terminal (RCT)
• 1 Autoland Position Sensor
(RAPS or ATOLS)
• 1 Hydraulic Launcher (LCHR)
• 1 or more Mobile Receiving Units (MRU)
• 1 Set of Maintenance and Logistics
Equipment
Required Personnel
• Operational crew (3 – 4 people)
• Technical crew (2 mechanics and
2 electronics technicians)
• Support personnel
Air Vehicle with Payload
The RANGER Unmanned Air Vehicle (UAV) is
a miniature fixed-wing light weight aircraft,
remotely controlled from the Ground Control
Station.
The UAV is equipped with a skid system
which allows landing on unprepared grass
strips or snow. A wheeled version is also avail-
able.
Standard payload is the MOSP Mk III, an
advanced, lightweight multimission spher-
ical payload with autotrack capability. It is
available in various configurations, either:
• TV
• FLIR
• Combi TV/FLIR
• TV with Laser Designator
• FLIR with Laser Designator
RANGER with skids extended for landing on grass
RANGER after landing on snow-covered landing strip RANGER landing on concrete runway
IR pictureTV pictureMultimission Optronic Stabilized Payload MOSP
The system is designed for full automatic
take-off and landing. The emergency para-
chute system provides full safety.
The modular concept allows the implemen-
tation of different payloads according to the
customer’s needs.
As well as system status reports, the UAV
transmits real-time video/FLIR pictures with
coordinates of the objects observed or other
information, depending on the payload,
to the Ground Control Station for deci-
sion making and/or processing.
Other payloads including a SAR (Synthetic
Aperture Radar) or sensors for mine detec-
tion, ELINT, COMINT and g-radiation meas-
urement are in preparation.
Auto Take-Off
Autoland
The hydropneumatic Launcher mounted on
a cross-country vehicle is designed for fast,
safe launching of the UAV.
A closed nitrogen/hydraulic oil pressure sys-
tem provides high economy and low main-
tenance efforts and costs. The launch-rails
are compactly stowed on the vehicle for
transportation. The start is in full autopilot
mode, activated from the Ground Control
Station.
RANGER starting from Launcher
RAPS SensorThe RANGER Autoland System based on a RAPS Sensor
Key feature of the RANGER system is the
Autoland System. An autoland position sen-
sor scans, tracks and measures the position
of the approaching UAV continuously. The
measured positions are transmitted by a fiber
optic link to the GCS. The control loop to
UAV is closed by the data uplink from the
RCT to the UAV.
There are two different autoland sensors
available. The RAPS sensor illuminates the
approaching UAV by infrared light pulses.
These are echoed by the retro-reflector on the
UAV's nose and the RAPS determines the
object distance as well as azimuth and eleva-
tion angle from these echos. The advantage
of this cost effective sensor is that there is no
detectable radio emission.
Also available is the microwave based auto-
land sensor ATOLS. This sensor measures dis-
tance, azimuth and elevation based on a mi-
crowave radar with a detection range of up
to 10 km. With the RANGER Autoland sys-
tem and the ATOLS sensor, landings at zero
visibility conditions are no problems at all.
Control Stations
Mobile Receiving Units
GCS and RCT shelters mounted on trucks
provide high mobility and allow rapid de-
ployment and redeployment.
GCS-shelter deployed Control room of Ground Control Station
The RANGER Unmanned Air Vehicle is con-
trolled from the Ground Control Station
(GCS) via the Remote Communication Termi-
nal (RCT). The two units are connected by a
fiber optic cable for transmitting and re-
ceiving data.
This configuration is designed for maximum
protection of the crew against anti-radiation
missiles and to allow optimum positioning of
the system.
The RCT is an unmanned, modular tracking
and communication system installed in a
shelter for transferring commands, data and
video pictures between the Air Vehicle and
the Ground Control Station. RCT deployed
Man pack MRU
Specific system features
• Sophisticated, state-of-the-art video
receiving systems for day and night
operation.
• Real-time information processing.
• Image frame freezing, storage and
transmission capability.
• Alphanumeric and graphic symbol display.
Mobile Receiving Units (MRUs) are designed
to provide real-time battlefield video pictures
to all levels of field commanders. With video
images supplied by the RANGER UAV, the
commander can obtain a display of selected
battlefield areas or specific targets on which
he can base his decisions for the operations.
The multiple configurations available can
satisfy the requirements of many different
users.
MRU receiver and display unit
• Image enhancement capability.
• A mission control device allowing direct
control of UAV payload with line-of-sight
camera guide mode is optionally available
for specific configurations.
• Digital Map Display capability.
RUAG AerospaceTel. +41 412 684 111
Fax +41 412 682 024
P.O. Box 301
CH-6032 Emmen/Switzerland
www.ruag.com
SECURITY IS OUR GOAL, QUALITY OUR STANDARD06.0
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Technical Specification
Section of GCS Tactical Situation Display
Logistics and Training
• Modular design concept means, most parts are field-replaceable
• Built-in Test Equipment (BITE) allows easy test and fault diagnosis
• Support shelter containing test, calibration and maintenance
equipment as well as spare parts and consumables are part of
the logistics system
• Full documentation and manuals
• Flight and Mission Simulator
• Comprehensive instruction and training courses are offered at all
levels for the operational, technical and maintenance crews
Special Assets
• Automated take-off and landing, no need for external pilot
• Launcher and landing skids do not require a prepared runway
• Qualified for operations under meteo conditions all over Europe
• Qualified for unlimited operations in public airspace and over
populated areas
System Performance
Operation Range Mission Range up to 180 km
Data Link Primary command uplink
Secondary command uplink (backup)
Video and telemetry downlink
Accuracy UAV locating error 75 m CEP
UAV Performance
Engine 2 cylinder, 2 stroke
Engine performance 31.5 kW/4500 rpm
Speed 130 kts max.
70 kts loiter
Service ceiling up to 18’000 ft
Endurance up to 9 hours
UAV Dimension/Weight
Wingspan 5.71 m
Overall length 4.61 m
Overall height 1.13 m
Take Off Weight up to 285 kg
Payload weight 45 kg max.
(different payloads available)
RANGER over city of Lucerne
