Al-Qassam Brigades published a video documenting their fighters seizing two "Skylark" drones in the Zaitoun neighborhood of Gaza City. The "Skylark" is classified as a lightweight, quiet unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), one of the latest surveillance mechanisms used by the Israeli military. It was manufactured by the Israeli company Elbit Systems, which has secured numerous contracts to supply it to various countries, including Australia and France. The cost of a single drone is estimated to be around fifty thousand dollars.
The "Skylark 1" drone is characterized by its lightweight design, weighing between seven and seven and a half kilograms according to the manufacturer, with a payload capacity of 1.2 kilograms. Its length is one and a half meters, and its wingspan is three meters, with the ability to fly for between one and a half to three hours, covering a distance of up to forty kilometers.
Unlike other drone models, the "Skylark 1" does not require significant technical or logistical demands, as it can be launched by a crew of two soldiers by hand and controlled via a laptop system. It is employed by Israeli infantry brigades for intelligence and reconnaissance missions, offering substantial capabilities for scanning and accurately identifying targets, while also being capable of flying at night without detection by the monitored area, as it is equipped with electro-optical cameras, laser cameras, and infrared sensors.
