Sperwer UAV manufacture. Engineers using an electric hoist system to move a Sperwer UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle) at a manufacturing and testing facility. UAVs, sometimes known as drones, can be autonomous or remotely controlled, and are used for a wide range of surveillance purposes. The Sperwer UAV is a military drone that can be flown to heights of 4500 metres, and be controlled over distances of 200 kilometres. It carries a range of sensors, including those mounted in a swivel-ball camera beneath its nose. The Sperwer UAVs were developed in the 1990s by the French- based company Sagem Defense Securite.