A reconnaissance system includes a projectile having an opening through which images of a target area are acquired, a portable launcher having a mechanism for affixing the launcher to a rifle for launching the projectile to fly along and above the target area, an image acquiring device within the projectile for acquiring images of the target area through the opening, a transmitter within the projectile for transmitting during its flight the acquired images to a remote station, a stabilizing mechanism for stabilizing at least one of the projectile and the image acquiring device while flying in a ballistic trajectory above the target area and a remote station. The remote station includes a receiver for receiving the images transmitted from the projectile and a monitor having a display for displaying the received images.