Directory of U.S. Military Rockets and Missiles
Appendix 4: Undesignated Vehicles
InstantEye
Copyright © 2024 Andreas Parsch

InstantEye Robotics InstantEye

The InstantEye family of quadcopter small UAVs was designed and built by the now defunct company InstantEye Robotics, a subsidiary of Physical Sciences Inc. (PSI). The family consisted of two major models, Mk-2 and Mk-3, each of which came in several sizes labeled as "GENx" - a medium-sized GEN3, a larger GEN4, and the diminutive palm-sized GEN5. Missions envisioned for InstantEye included near real-time ISR (Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance), target reconnaissance, communications relay, chemical / radiological hazard detection, and payload delivery.

In 2016, the US Special Operations Command (SOCOM) ordered more than 100 InstantEye Mk-2 Gen3 systems. The US Navy ONR (Office of Naval Research) had evaluated the InstantEye since about 2014, and the Navy had also acquired some systems for use by special operations units. In February 2018, the US Marine Corps ordered 800 InstantEye Mk-2 GEN3-A0 systems, followed in November that year by an order for 32 InstantEye Mk-3 GEN5-D1 systems with two air vehicles each.

Photo: Lance Cpl. Scott Jenkins, USMC
InstantEye Mk-2 GEN3


Little information is available about the operational history of the various InstantEye variants in U.S. military service. By 2023, they have probably been removed from service, because the manufacturer InstantEye Robotics had closed down in August 2022, and ceased any remaining services (limited repair, spare parts) in June 2023.

Specifications

Note: Data given by several sources show slight variations. Figures given below may therefore be inaccurate!

Data for InstantEye Mk-2 GEN3:

Dimensions?
Weight545 g (1.2 lb)
Speed56 km/h (35 mph)
Ceiling3700 m (12000 ft)
Range2 km (1.2 miles)
Endurance30 min
PropulsionElectric

Main Sources

[1] Naval Technology: InstantEye Mk-2 Gen3 Small Unmanned Aerial System
[2] Airforce Technology: InstantEye Mk-3 Small Unmanned Aerial System
[3] sUAS News: United States Marine Corps Orders 800 InstantEye Systems
[4] NavalDrones: InstantEye


Back to Directory of U.S. Military Rockets and Missiles, Appendix 4




Last Updated: 17 January 2024