AeroVironment Wasp III
Miniature UAV for beyond-line-of-sight reconnaissance and surveillance.
The AeroVironment Wasp III is a small unmanned aircraft built for U.S. Air Force special operations, designed to give troops a lightweight way to see what’s happening beyond their direct line of sight. It carries two onboard cameras that send real-time video back to operators, and its GPS and inertial navigation system let it fly autonomously from launch to landing. The aircraft was created by AeroVironment Inc. and entered Air Force service in 2007. Two versions exist: the Terra Wasp, which lands on solid ground, and the Aqua Wasp, which can touch down on salt or fresh water. In late May 2012, the Air Force accepted the improved Wasp AE, and the U.S. Marine Corps announced in January 2013 that they had ordered it. The Wasp AE is designated RQ-12A.
The Wasp III came out of a multi-year collaboration between AeroVironment and DARPA to make a small, portable, rugged drone for frontline day-or-night reconnaissance. It weighs 430 grams, is 38 centimeters long, and has a 72-centimeter wingspan, and it can be taken apart and reassembled to fit in a backpack. Operators can fly it manually or set it to navigate by GPS. It accepts interchangeable payloads, including forward- and side-looking infrared and color cameras, and streams video to the same handheld ground controller used for the larger RQ-11B Raven and RQ-20 Puma. The Wasp III can fly for 45 minutes, reach 5 kilometers away, climb to 300 meters, and hit speeds between 40 and 65 kilometers per hour. In December 2006, Air Force Special Operations Command chose it for the Battlefield Air Targeting Micro Air Vehicle program, giving battlefield airmen a way to spot enemy targets beyond their sight. Testing began in October 2007, and full-rate production was approved in January 2008. That November, the Marine Corps awarded AeroVironment a $19.3 million contract for Wasp III systems under the same Air Force program, equipping platoon-level Marines alongside Raven UAVs used at company and battalion levels.
In May 2012, AeroVironment released the Wasp AE, an upgraded version that can land on either ground or water. It is heavier at 2.8 pounds but offers 20 percent more endurance and includes a miniature gimbal that provides both color and infrared video from a single sensor. After the Air Force, the Marine Corps ordered the Wasp AE in September 2012.
Quick Facts
- Aircraft Type
- Miniature UAV
- National Origin
- United States
- Manufacturer
- AeroVironment Inc.
- Primary User
- United States Air Force
- Introduction
- 2007
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The Wasp III is the result of a multi-year joint development effort between AeroVironment and the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) to create a small, portable, reliable, and rugged unmanned aerial platform designed for front-line day or night reconnaissance and surveillance. It can be broken down and re-assembled to fit in a backpack, and can be controlled manually or programmed for GPS-based autonomous navigation. The aircraft carries interchangeable targeting payload modules, including forward and side-looking infrared and color cameras that transmit streaming video directly to the hand-held ground controller, the same controller used for the larger RQ-11B Raven and RQ-20 Puma.
The Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC) selected the Wasp III for the Battlefield Air Targeting Micro Air Vehicle (BATMAV) program in December 2006. AFSOC began testing the tiny UAV in October 2007 and approved full-rate production in January 2008. In November 2007, the U.S. Marine Corps also awarded AeroVironment a $19.3 million contract to deliver Wasp III systems under the Air Force BATMAV contract to equip Marines at platoon level. In May 2012, AeroVironment introduced the Wasp AE, an improved version that can land on ground or water, is heavier at 2.8 lb, has 20 percent greater endurance, and incorporates a miniature gimbal for both color and infrared video imagery from a single sensor package. The Air Force accepted the Wasp AE in late May 2012, and the Marine Corps ordered it in September 2012. The Wasp AE is designated as the RQ-12A.
Reader's Guide
The Wasp III represents a significant step in miniaturizing unmanned aerial systems for tactical reconnaissance, providing front-line troops with a backpack-portable platform capable of autonomous flight and real-time video streaming. Its development through a joint effort between AeroVironment and DARPA highlights the military's push for small, rugged systems that can be deployed rapidly. The aircraft's ability to operate beyond line of sight, using GPS and inertial navigation, gave battlefield airmen a new tool for target acquisition and surveillance. The introduction of the Wasp AE variant, with water-landing capability and improved endurance, extended the system's versatility. The Wasp III and its variants were adopted by multiple branches of the U.S. military and several foreign operators, including the Australian Army, Czech Army, French Navy, Swedish Air Force, Swedish Army, Swedish Navy, Spanish Air Force, Royal Navy, and Bangladesh Army. However, by January 2023, the U.S. Marine Corps had retired the RQ-12A Wasp IV SUAS in favor of the Skydio X2D, a vertical take-off and landing UAV offering easier launch and recovery and a hover-and-stare capability. The Wasp III's legacy lies in its role as a pioneering micro UAV that demonstrated the viability of small, autonomous aircraft for close-range reconnaissance.
Did You Know?
- The Wasp III weighs only 430 g and has a wingspan of 29 in (72 cm).
- It can fly for 45 minutes out to 5 km at an altitude of 1,000 ft (300 m).
- The Wasp AE variant can land on ground or water and is designated RQ-12A.
- The U.S. Marine Corps retired the RQ-12A Wasp IV in January 2023 in favor of the Skydio X2D.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the AeroVironment Wasp III?
It is a palm-sized, hand-launched unmanned aircraft built by AeroVironment Inc. specifically for U.S. Air Force special-operations units. The system entered service in 2007 as a lightweight way to give small ground teams eyes beyond their immediate line of sight.
What does the Wasp III actually do in the field?
Its core job is miniature beyond-line-of-sight reconnaissance and surveillance. Two onboard cameras stream live video to operators while the aircraft flies itself from launch to landing using GPS plus an inertial navigation system.
How small is the Wasp III and how long can it fly?
The airframe weighs only about 430 grams, stretches 16 inches long with a 29-inch wingspan, and can stay aloft for roughly 45 minutes. Its operational envelope covers a 5-kilometer radius at altitudes up to 1,000 feet.
What versions of the Wasp III exist?
Two variants are fielded: the Terra Wasp, which recovers on solid ground, and the Aqua Wasp, engineered to make a safe touchdown on either salt or fresh water. Both share the same airframe and sensor payload but differ in their landing configuration.
Why does the Wasp III matter to special-operations forces?
It lets a two- or three-person team launch a camera platform without a dedicated pilot, a ground vehicle, or a runway, filling a surveillance gap that crewed aircraft simply can't cover at that scale. Since its 2007 introduction it has become a go-to tool for quick, low-signature reconnaissance in denied or austere environments.
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