An unmanned aerial vehicle, the UAV (11, 21) defining a UAV blended wing body, a UAV outer surface and a UAV inner surface, the UAV outer surface defining at least one spoiler aperture formed therein, the UAV comprising: a spoiler assembly for regulating lift characteristics of the UAV, the spoiler assembly including: a spoiler (17, 43), translatably connected to the UAV inner surface adjacent a first portion of the spoiler aperture, the spoiler defining a spoiler upper surface and a spoiler lower surface, the spoiler upper surface being substantially the same size and shape as the spoiler aperture; a spoiler shroud connected to the UAV inner surface and extending within the UAV body about at least a portion of the spoiler aperture; and a spoiler activating mechanism secured to the UAV inner surface and connected to the spoiler lower surface, the spoiler activating mechanism being operative to regulate lift characteristics of the UAV by translating the spoiler (17, 43) between a first position, wherein the spoiler upper surface is substantially flush with the UAV outer surface, and a second position, wherein the spoiler upper surface is disposed substantially recessed within the UAV body, thereby reducing lift characteristics of the UAV. a spoiler assembly for regulating lift characteristics of the UAV, the spoiler assembly including: a spoiler (17, 43), translatably connected to the UAV inner surface adjacent a first portion of the spoiler aperture, the spoiler defining a spoiler upper surface and a spoiler lower surface, the spoiler upper surface being substantially the same size and shape as the spoiler aperture; a spoiler shroud connected to the UAV inner surface and extending within the UAV body about at least a portion of the spoiler aperture; and a spoiler activating mechanism secured to the UAV inner surface and connected to the spoiler lower surface, the spoiler activating mechanism being operative to regulate lift characteristics of the UAV by translating the spoiler (17, 43) between a first position, wherein the spoiler upper surface is substantially flush with the UAV outer surface, and a second position, wherein the spoiler upper surface is disposed substantially recessed within the UAV body, thereby reducing lift characteristics of the UAV. a spoiler (17, 43), translatably connected to the UAV inner surface adjacent a first portion of the spoiler aperture, the spoiler defining a spoiler upper surface and a spoiler lower surface, the spoiler upper surface being substantially the same size and shape as the spoiler aperture; a spoiler shroud connected to the UAV inner surface and extending within the UAV body about at least a portion of the spoiler aperture; and a spoiler activating mechanism secured to the UAV inner surface and connected to the spoiler lower surface, the spoiler activating mechanism being operative to regulate lift characteristics of the UAV by translating the spoiler (17, 43) between a first position, wherein the spoiler upper surface is substantially flush with the UAV outer surface, and a second position, wherein the spoiler upper surface is disposed substantially recessed within the UAV body, thereby reducing lift characteristics of the UAV.