Ranger is a tactical UAV system for use in extreme weather conditions for surveillance, reconnaissance, target acquisition, artillery adjustment and damage assessment. It was developed and manufactured in cooperation with the Swiss company RUAG Aerospace. IAI/MALAT is a senior member of the Swiss-Israeli consortium led by Oerlikon-Contraves (Zurich, Switzerland) that produces the Ranger.

The Ranger Tactical Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) System was designed for day and night battlefield reconnaissance and surveillance to meet specific Swiss Armed Forces requirements. The Ranger has been optimized for use in the difficult weather and geographical conditions that can be encountered in Switzerland. The aerial vehicle was developed and manufactured by Swiss Aircraft & Systems Company. Special attention was given to weatherproofing it. The UAV's body is constructed of composite materials with high-aspect-ratio wings mounted low on the fuselage, twin-boom tail and a single rudder and is equipped with an emergency parachute.

The Ranger is launched automatically from a truck-mounted hydraulic catapult and has skids for automatic landing on a short grass strip or unprepared snow/ice surface. The Ranger system includes seven air vehicles, two truck-mounted launchers, two truck-mounted Ground Control Stations (GCS), two Remote Communications Terminals (RCT), and two recovery vehicles.

The Ranger's primary sensors is an IAI/Tamam's MOSP (a dual TV camera and IR sensor mounted in a rotating retractable turret). The Ranger can also carry customer furnished equipment packages for other roles

The Ranger system main features and capabilities are:

• Built for operation in extreme weather conditions
• Built from composite materials to reduce radar detection
• Automatic Takeoff and Landing (ATOL) system for maximal safety
• Hydraulic catapult launch
• Skid landing system
• Parachute for emergency landing
• Fully redundant, state-of-the-art avionics
• Elevator for payload installation to prevent damage during take-off and landing 
• Safe, reliable and easy operation

Payloads

•  MOSP Multi Optronic Stabilized Payload 
•  Customer furnished payloads

 Datalinks

•  Direct Line-of-Sight (LOS) data link
•  Ground-based data relay for beyond LOS mission

Performance

• Endurance:    6 hr
• Range:    180 km 
• Altitude:    18,000 ft

Technical Data

• Max. take-off weight:    280 kg
• Max. payload weight:    45 kg
• Overall length:    4.615 m 
• Wingspan:    5.71 m

Jun 24, 1999

A Ranger Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) system is now in operational use with the Swiss Armed Forces. The system was officially handed over to the Swiss Air Force following a successful military exercise by the Swiss Armed Forces.

During the exercises the Ranger system demonstrated in a severe Alpine scenario transfer of control from rear to forward control stations flying simultaneously two UAVs and performing complex video intelligence missions.

A second Ranger UAV system will be delivered shortly to the Swiss Armed Forces.

IAI / MALAT is a senior member of the Swiss-Israeli consortium led by Oerlikon-Contraves (Zurich, Switzerland) that produces the Ranger.

Dec 24, 2001

A formal hand over of the RANGER UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle) System to the Swiss Air Force has taken place during the inauguration ceremony of the new Swiss Air Force UAV Training Center situated in Emmen, Switzerland.

The RANGER UAV System is manufactured by a Swiss/Israeli consortium consisting of Swiss companies Oerlikon Contraves AG and RUAG Aerospace, and Israeli companies Israel Aircraft Industries (IAI)/MALAT Division, Tadiran Electronic Systems and Tadiran Spectralink.

The Head of the Defence Procurement Agency (DPA) of the Swiss MOD handed the RANGER UAV System over to the Swiss Air Force Commander. The Ceremony was attended by Swiss Government and military officials, Swiss industry representatives and Israeli industry representatives headed by Mr. Moshe Keret, IAI's President & CEO.

IAI's President & CEO, Mr. Moshe Keret said that: "Israel Aircraft Industries is honored by the fact that the Swiss Air Force has chosen the RANGER UAV System for its missions. The Swiss Air Force is now a part of an exclusive and distinguished list of world-wide customers who are aware to the benefits and capabilities of IAI's family of UAV Systems".

The ceremony was followed by a guided tour at the new Training Center, at which the RANGER UAV system and the Mission Simulator were presented.

The Swiss RANGER UAV System consists of four systems, which include Ground Control Stations, 28 UAVs, secure communication links, Electro-Optical payloads for day and night vision, Automatic Landing Systems, and Mobile Receiving Units.

The system also includes a state-of-the-art mission simulator, which allows training UAV flyers and observers in a shorter period of time and major decrease in operational expenses.

The Swiss and Israeli industries have been cooperating in the field of UAVs for the past two decades. RANGER UAV System is considered a third generation of UAV system made by this cooperation.

The Swiss Air Force also deploys RANGER UAV System for civilian use, such as national disasters. Switzerland is one of the most advanced and capable countries in Europe and the world in the field of UAV operations and the only country in Europe to allow the use of UAVs in populated areas.

The Finnish Army also acquired a RANGER UAV System, after the successful completion of a long evaluation process. The first system was delivered to Finland on October 2001.