Previously developed under the N-Raven programme name, V-Raven represents a significant evolution in both the aircraft and the operational concept behind the programme. Paramount has moved from the original catapult-launched concept towards a returnable VTOL aircraft family capable of operating from dispersed locations without a runway, catapult or fixed launch infrastructure.
The development comes as African armed forces face increasingly complex security challenges across vast and often difficult-to-access areas. From the Sahel to northern Mozambique, forces require persistent surveillance to monitor remote territories, track movements and improve situational awareness in environments where conventional aviation infrastructure may be limited or unavailable.
“The V-Raven has been developed for the realities of the modern African battlefield,” said Sello Ntshiele from Paramount. “Vast operating areas, remote terrain, dispersed threats and the increasing use of drones mean that forces need to be able to see further and stay on station longer. V-Raven brings those capabilities together in a highly flexible, reusable unmanned system.”
V-Raven is designed to address these requirements through a returnable, reusable ISR and light attack capability. Unlike expendable loitering munitions, the aircraft takes off vertically, conducts its assigned mission and returns to land for subsequent use. This enables the platform to provide persistent surveillance while offering a different operational model and through-life economics from single-use unmanned systems.
The ISR configuration is equipped with an electro-optical sensor system providing day-and-night surveillance capability, allowing operators to assess points and areas of interest, monitor movements and identify potential targets. The platform supports automatic target tracking and can accommodate multiple electro-optical and infrared sensor options according to mission requirements.
The V-Raven family is being developed to support more than one mission configuration. The ISR configuration is intended for persistent surveillance and reconnaissance, while a separate ISR and light-attack configuration is planned to integrate precision-guided glide munitions for selected targets.
The light-attack configuration displayed at AAD 2026 illustrates the planned integration of precision-guided weapons within the V-Raven architecture. Paramount will mature this capability through a phased programme of systems integration, ground testing and flight trials, allowing the platform and its mission systems to be progressively developed and validated.
“What we are unveiling at AAD is the next stage of the V-Raven journey,” said Ntshiele. “It is a common aircraft architecture that can evolve as operational requirements develop. The immediate focus is a highly capable ISR platform, while the family architecture provides a pathway towards additional mission configurations, including light attack.”
The petrol-powered V-Raven offers up to eight hours of endurance, a range of up to 1,200 km and a cruise speed of approximately 140 km/h. Its communications range with the ground station is up to 150 km. An electric configuration provides up to two hours of endurance and a range of up to 250 km.
Both configurations use VTOL operation, allowing V-Raven to be deployed rapidly from dispersed or difficult locations without the need for conventional launch and recovery infrastructure. The aircraft has a wingspan of 3.6 metres, a fuselage length of 2.1 metres and a maximum take-off weight of 65 kg.
The result is a reusable unmanned aircraft designed around persistence, flexibility and rapid deployment, giving forces an organic aerial surveillance capability that can be repeatedly deployed as operational requirements dictate.
V-Raven forms part of Paramount's expanding portfolio of aerospace and unmanned systems, reflecting the company's focus on developing mission-ready capabilities for Africa's evolving security environment and international markets.
The V-Raven is being unveiled publicly for the first time at AAD 2026 in South Africa.
