The DRS RQ-15 Neptune is a reconnaissance UAV developed in the United States in the early years of the 21st century. The design is optimized for operations over water, and is capable of water landings on its

flying boat A flying boat is a type of fixed-winged seaplane with a hull, allowing it to land on water. It differs from a floatplane in that a flying boat's fuselage is purpose-designed for floatation and contains a hull, while floatplanes rely on fusela ...

–like hull. The 11.2 kW (15 hp) pusher engine is mounted high to keep it dry during takeoffs and landings. The Neptune can also be launched off a pneumatic catapult and land on a skid. In 2007, one was unsuccessfully launched off the USS ''Nashville'' (LPD-13), crashing into the water less than two seconds after lift off.

Specifications

References

This article contains material that originally came from the web articl
''Unmanned Aerial Vehicles''
by Greg Goebel, which exists in the public domain. *
Manufacturer's website
{{Q-UAVs RQ-015 2000s United States military reconnaissance aircraft Unmanned military aircraft of the United States Single-engined pusher aircraft Mid-wing aircraft Tailless aircraft Amphibious aircraft Flying boats Aircraft first flown in 2002 Twin-boom aircraft