Tiny drone soars in field testing.

• Author: Williams, Robert H.
• Position: TECH TALK: A TIP-SHEET ON THE LATEST GADGETS

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* A small, battery operated unmanned aerial vehicle--called the Orbiter--was tested in a recent exercise and is now being marketed to the U.S. military.

In combat, soldiers could carry the small spy airplane and associated ground station gear in several backpacks.

The diminutive UAV was developed by Aeronautics Defense Systems of Israel and is being offered by AAI Corp. of Hunt Valley, Md.

The mini-unmanned aircraft system, which is less than 40 inches long, can fly for up to three...