Group : mini-UAVs
Status : Active
Origin : Israel
Contractor : Aeronautics Defense Systems
Initial Operational Capability (IOC) : 2006
Total Production : ?

The Orbiter is a day/night, compact, lightweight, tail-less Mini Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (MUAV) developed by Aeronautics Defense Systems to perform homeland security and tactical military missions. The system represents the ultimate solution for Over The Hill reconnaissance missions, Low Intensity Conflicts and Urban warfare operations as well as any close range Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) mission. It has been designed to fly missions of 2.5 to 3 hours at ranges of up to 40 kilometers using a mini ground directional antenna. A single Orbiter system consists of a two-man crew, launch and control equipment and an air vehicle fitting into one backpack.

The Orbiter is powered by an electric motor and is designed for use by a single operator. It features autonomous launch and recovery modes using a catapult and a parachute respectively. It can fly both operator directed via a line-of-sight data link or pre-programmed flight paths. The air vehicle is equipped with advanced avionics, state-of-the-art payloads, advanced data link system, and an accurate navigation system combining GPS and INS. Its electric motor provides a low acoustic signature which enhances the survivability on the theater of operations while flying between 500-to-2,000-ft (150-to-700 meters) of altitude. Each Orbiter system includes three air vehicles.