RANGER is a tacticalUAV system (TUAV) built as aSwiss-Israeli joint venture[1] between Swiss aerospace enterpriseRUAG Aviation and Israeli aerospace companyIsrael Aerospace Industries. Its design and some of its technology is based on theScout UAV system byIsrael Aerospace Industries.
The RANGER UAV uses a compacthydraulic launcher for takeoff. Due to a modularpayload, the system can be adapted to a wide range of civilian and military missions. Askid-based landing system enables the UAV to land nearly anywhere, on grass or on concrete runways, on snow or ice. According to the manufacturer, RANGER is the only tactical UAV system worldwide certified to fly in civilian airspace as well as over populated areas. The prototype is now at theFlieger-Flab-Museum in Dübendorf.
The consortium delivered the first Ranger system to the Swiss Air Force in June 1999 upon successful completion of military exercise conducted by the Swiss Armed Forces.
The RANGER system is in service with theSwiss Air Force under the designationADS-95. From 1988 to 1999, an earlier variant calledADS-90 was in use. The Air Force's RANGERs are also used by Swisspolice for reconnaissance, search and rescue missions. The current 15 ADS-95 will be replaced until 2019 by sixElbit Hermes 900.[2]The last flight of a Swiss Air Force ADS-95 (D-124) was on 27 November 2017.
The RANGER is also in service with theFinnish Defence Forces (FDF).
Switzerland (28)
Finland (12)
Swiss confederation data:[4]
