The Mk 4.4 Aerosonde is a small, autonomous, high performance, high endurance, expeditionary UAS. It is powered by a high-performance reciprocating engine and has a broad operational flight envelope. The Mk 4.4 Aerosonde AV is extremely versatile; with several payloads varying widely in specification, performance and capability having already been integrated for a variety of customers. The list of integrated mission payloads consist of more than a dozen scientific payloads, including various radio sondes and other meteorological monitoring instruments; sensors and cameras; remote sensing equipment; laser scanner; radiometers; and radar altimeter.
The airframe consists of a fuselage pod nacelle with a rear-mounted engine and high-mounted wing; twin tailbooms with inverted V tail unit, constructed mainly of composites. the aircraft is launched from a cartop mount and belly recovered (no landing gear).
The system consists of one or more air vehicles, payloads, single GCS and ground crew of three (minimum). Aerosonde flight hours are now excess of 5,000.
Depending on payload configuration, the Aerosonde Mk 4.4 is also capable of performing a variety of missions including:
1. Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance and Target Acquisition (ISR/TA)
2. Battlefield Monitoring and Battle Damage Assessment
3. Border Patrol and Force Security
4. Fire Detection
5. Search & Rescue