Raven UAV Receives Dutch Military Approval

AeroVironment, based in Monrovia, Calif., said the Military Aviation Authority of the Netherlands (MLA-NLD) has issued a Military Type Certificate (MTC) for its Raven B NLD MUAS, the first such certificate issued in the Netherlands in the Micro-Unmanned Aerial Vehicle category. The company said this certification allows Dutch military personnel to operate Raven systems in designated Dutch airspace. The Raven B system was selected by the Netherlands Ministry of Defence in 2007. The Raven unmanned aircraft is a 4.2-pound, backpackable, hand-launched sensor platform that provides day and night, real-time video imagery for “over the hill” and “around the corner” reconnaissance, surveillance and target acquisition in support of tactical units.