The Brazilian Navy’s Boeing Insitu ScanEagle UAV has entered service to increase surveillance capability over its territorial waters. AirForces Monthly explains its role
On July 5, 2022, the Brazilian Navy’s 1st Squadron of Remotely Piloted Aircraft (EsqdQE-1) ‘Esquadrão Harpia’ was officially launched at the São Pedro da Aldeia Naval Air Complex in Rio de Janeiro state, Brazil. This was the last phase of the Aeronave Remotamente Pilotada-Embarcada (ARP-E; Remotely Piloted Aircraft-Embarked) programme, which grew from the Articulation and Equipment Plan of the Brazilian Navy that was launched in 2010 with the objective of acquiring ten unmanned aircraft with launch and recovery capabilities from ships.
