AeroVironment Inc. (AV) [AVAV] said Nov. 3 the Netherlands Raven Micro-Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (MUAS) has been certified for military operation in designated Dutch national airspace.

The Military Aviation Authority of the Netherlands has issued a Military Type Certificate (MTC) for the Ravenr B NLD MUAS, the first certificate issued in the MUAS certificate category in the Netherlands.

The Netherlands Ministry of Defence’s Defence Materiel Organization (DMO) selected the AV Raven B system after an open competition in 2007.

Key elements in its selection were its hand-launch capability, reliability, ease of use, robustness, and demonstrated in-theater operational performance and logistics support. DMO subsequently purchased Raven B systems and support services, including training of military users.

“Receiving this MTC validates the Raven system’s airworthiness and reliability, but also represents an important step toward the operation of small UAS in our national airspace,” Dick Goedhart, DMO head section type management unmanned aircraft, said in a statement. “This MTC also makes it possible for us to use Raven for non-military applications, though for those activities segregation of airspace must still be managed by procedures.”

The Raven unmanned aircraft is a 4.2-pound, backpackable, hand-launched sensor platform that provides day and night, real-time video imagery for reconnaissance, surveillance and target acquisition in support of tactical units. The U.S. armed forces use Raven systems extensively for missions such as base security, route reconnaissance, mission planning and force protection.

In addition to the Raven system, AV’s small UAS include Puma AE(tm) and Wasp(tm), which are also hand-launched and controlled by AV’s hand-held ground control station. AV’s UAS logistics operation supports systems deployed worldwide to ensure a consistently high level of operational readiness. AV has delivered thousands of small unmanned aircraft to date.

Other international purchasers of Raven systems include Italy, Denmark, and Spain.