Skylark 3

The Skylark 3 is a medium‑altitude, long‑endurance unmanned aerial vehicle developed by Elbit Systems Ltd. as the third iteration of the company’s Skylark family, which began with the Skylark 1 prototype in 2007. The program entered formal development in 2012 and saw its first flight in 2014, reaching initial operational capability with several European and Middle‑Eastern defense forces by 2017. Built around a carbon‑fiber fuselage and a high‑aspect‑ratio wing, the Skylark 3 can carry a payload of up to 45 kg and remain aloft for up to 20 hours at altitudes of 15,000 feet. Its modular payload bay accommodates electro‑optical/infrared cameras, synthetic‑aperture radar, and signals‑intelligence suites, while a proprietary autonomous navigation system provides waypoint planning, automatic take‑off, and precision landing on compact recovery zones. The vehicle’s ground control station employs secure datalink encryption and can be operated from both land‑based and ship‑borne consoles. The Skylark 3’s blend of endurance, low acoustic signature, and rapid deployability has made it a preferred platform for ISR, border surveillance, and disaster‑response missions, reinforcing Elbit’s position as a leading supplier of tactical UAVs in the global aviation market. Its continued upgrades, including AI‑driven flight‑path optimization and extended satellite communications, ensure the Skylark 3 remains relevant for the next decade of aerial intelligence operations.