US to supply Pakistan with 85 mini-drones

4:00pm EDT

ISLAMABAD, April 21 | Thu Apr 21, 2011 3:55pm EDT

(Reuters) - The United States will provide Pakistan with 85 small "Raven" drone aircraft, a U.S. military official told Reuters on Thursday, a key step to meeting Islamabad's calls for access to U.S. drone technology.

The official, speaking on condition of anonymity, declined to disclose the cost or model of the non-lethal, short-range aircraft, which are manufactured by the U.S.-based AeroVironment Inc (AVAV.O).

(Reporting by Phil Stewart)