Israel Expands Unmanned Air Force

Israel, long a leader in unmanned aerial vehicles, is beefing up their already-sizable robotic air force. The Jerusalem Post earlier this week reported that the country's leading aerospace company has unveiled several new drones:

Three aircraft under development by Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) have the potential to revolutionize civilian and military aviation in the coming decade.

*The aircraft, revealed in *The Jerusalem Post for the first time, are: an unmanned cargo plane that can carry a payload of up to 30 tons; a solar-powered Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) capable of conducting long-range surveillance; and an environmentally-friendly inter-city aircraft powered by innovative fuel cells.

All three are the brainchild of Arnold Nathan, director of Research and Development at IAI's Engineering Division and Shlomo Tsach, its director of Flight Sciences, and are being developed in conjunction with the European Union and a number of global aerospace companies.

Tsach and Nathan are leading development of the Innovative Future Air Transport System, an unmanned cargo plane with a 30-meter wingspan that can transplant up to 30 tons. The technology already exists to build unmanned passenger jets, but "the world is not yet ready to be flown without a pilot at the stick," Tsach says.

Today's Jerusalem Post notes yet another development --- Israel's new long-endurance UAV --made for spying -- has been 'officially' accepted into service (although it's apparently been flying for some time):

*Called the Heron, the UAV - made by Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) - is capable of remaining two days straight in the air without refueling. In comparison, the UAV currently in IAF use - called the Searcher Mk. II - can only remain in the air for 12 hours straight. *

The Heron can also fly at altitudes of 30,000 feet, making it a difficult target for standard anti-aircraft weapons. It has the ability to carry a 250-kg. payload, in comparison to the 100 kg. the Searcher is able to hold. The Heron has a wingspan of 16.6 meters and weighs 1,200 kilograms, with an operation range of hundreds of kilometers and the ability to fly in all weather conditions, as well as during the day and at night.

But there's still more developments coming down the pike. Aviation Week & Space Technology is reporting that yet another secret UAV will be revealed soon -- a follow-on to the Heron that could even be used to intercept missiles*:*

The Israel Air Force plans to unveil its big, new long-range unmanned aircraft within the next few weeks. The Eitan, also known as the Heron II, has the wingspan of a Boeing 737.

The aircraft has flown clandestinely several times. IAF will announce its introduction to military service. It also may be displayed at the Paris air show in June.

Eitan is being considered for use for intelligence-gathering and surveillance, and as a strike platform for ballistic missile intercept in boost phase and ground attack of missile launchers. The design also is being considered, along with the Eagle I, as an aerial refueler. Technion, Israel's premier technological institute, is developing a prototype refueling system.

-- __Sharon Weinberger
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(High five: AE)