Cypher

A Cypher is a reconnaissance drone that act as flying surveillance cameras in outside areas,

Desription
Cyphers can be disabled temporarily with a Chaff grenade or shot down with a rifle or handgun. There is also an armed version with a machine gun.

Peace Walker Incident
Main Article

In 1974, something that has an overall appearance is quite similar to a Cypher (dubbed Kidnapper) was an extension of an unmanned weapon that Big Boss (Naked Snake) fought and destroyed.

In 2007, a Cypher was used to photograph Solid Snake so that The Patriots could begin their smear campaign against him. In 2009, several Cyphers were also used to guard areas of the Big Shell, several of which were encountered by Raiden.

Trivia
An unlockable trophy describes the Cypher thusly:
 * Solid Snake uses a Cypher for vertical recovery in Super Smash Bros. Brawl.

"An unmanned aerial surveillance vehicle used by the U.S. Army. It uses a fan in the center of its body to hover and a camera on its upper fuselage to monitor from the skies. It has a number of models, including the armed Gun Cypher and the remodeled Cypher II. Its small size and continuous flight ability make it extremely effective in guarding against intruders."