The RQ-6 Outrider unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) was designed to provide near-real-time reconnaissance, surveillance, and target acquisition information to Marine air/ground task forces, Army brigades, and deployed Navy units that was small enough for an entire system to be contained on two High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicles (HMMWVs) and trailer and transported on a single C-130 Hercules cargo aircraft.
The project began in 1996 and was cancelled in 1999.
The "R" is the Department of Defense designation for reconnaissance; "Q" means unmanned aircraft system. The "6" refers to it being the sixth of a series of purpose-built unmanned reconnaissance aircraft systems. See also RQ-1 Predator, RQ-2 Pioneer, RQ-3 Dark Star, RQ-4 Global Hawk, RQ-5 Hunter, and RQ-7 Shadow.
General characteristics
- Primary Function: near-real-time reconnaissance, surveillance, and target acquisition information
- Contractor: Alliant Techsystems
- Power plant: McCulloch 4318F four cylinder pusher prop
- Length: 3 m (118.8 in)
- Height: 1.5 m (61 in)
- Weight: 175 kg (385 lb)
- Wingspan: 3.4 m (133.2 in)
- Speed: 110 knots (204 km/h)
- Loiter time: 4.9 hours at 200 km, 7.2 hours at 50 km
- Ceiling: 4600 m (15,000 ft)
- Fuel capacity: 32 liters
- Payload:
- System Cost:
- Inventory:
