Israel Matzav

IAF's new UAV: Size of a passenger jet, 20-hour flight time, capable of reaching Iran

The IAF announced on Thursday that it is putting a new UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle) into service. The UAV, called the Eitan, is the size of a passenger jet, is capable of flying for 20 hours straight... and is capable of flying to Iran and back.

The Eitan is classified by senior IAF officers as the best of its kind in the world today. The first Eitan will be welcomed into use this Sunday (Feb. 21), by a designated squadron that has been established to operate UAVs which underwent other test flights within the IAF.

The product of Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), the Eitan is capable of operating in the air for more than 20 hours straight at a high altitude, something which has not been within the capability of the UAVs of the IAF until now. Additionally, the turbo jet engine is equipped with 1200 horse power, and is able to carry hundreds of kilograms of equipment, at an altitude of up to forty thousand feet.

“To my knowledge, this is the most advanced UAV of its kind in the world, and it is especially well-suited for IAF missions,” explained Lt. Col. Eyal, who is the IAF officer responsible for Project Eitan. “It can complete a very wide range of missions, and adds specialized intelligence capabilities to the IAF. Very few UAVs in the world can reach its capabilities.”

Captain Omer, the Deputy Commander of the Eitan Squadron which is now in its early stages, has over 7 years flown one of the UAVs from the previous generation of those under IAF ownership. He was offered by the Squadron Commander to join in the experience of establishing a new squadron, and decided to step up to the challenge.

Cpt. Omer told the IDF Website that “The UAV contains the pinnacle of technology of industry in general. We received an asset which hides in its debt many capabilities that we recognize and even more that we will learn with the years. In past months a group of soldier sat and learned the Eitan with an open mind. The challenge standing before us is twofold: the establishment of a squadron, and the operation of a UAV which is the only one of its kind in the world. We will collect all of the knowledge and information ourselves.”

The JPost refers to the drone as the Heron TP. And notes that there is a whole fleet of them.

Air force officials said the Heron TP drones have a wingspan of 26 meters, making them the size of passenger jets. They said the planes can fly 20 consecutive hours, and are primarily used for surveillance and carrying payloads.

The drones, built by state-owned Israel Aerospace Industries, were first used during Israel's Gaza war last year.

At an inauguration ceremony Sunday, officials refused to say how large the new fleet is or whether the planes were designed for use against Iran.

The New York Times seems impressed.

At the fleet's inauguration ceremony at a sprawling air base in central Israel, the drone dwarfed an F-15 fighter jet parked beside it. The unmanned plane resembles its predecessor, the Heron, but can fly higher, reaching an altitude of more than 40,000 feet (12,000 meters), and remain in the air longer.

''With the inauguration of the Heron TP, we are realizing the air force's dream,'' said Brig. Gen. Amikam Norkin, commander of the base that will operate the drones. ''The Heron TP is a technological and operational breakthrough.''

The commander of Israel's air force, Maj. Gen. Ido Nehushtan, said the aircraft ''has the potential to be able to conduct new missions down the line as they become relevant.''

Israel's military refused to say how large the new fleet is or whether the planes were designed for use against Iran, but stressed it was versatile and could adapt to new missions. The plane's maker, state-owned Israel Aerospace Industries, has said it is capable of reaching the Persian Gulf, which would put Iran within its range.

Israeli defense officials said the Heron TP could be a useful tool against Iran. It could provide surveillance, jam enemy communications and connect ground control and manned air force planes.

The drones likely carry missiles against anti-aircraft weapons. No one is saying.

Read the whole thing.

Noah Pollak claims that the UAV gives Israel a strategic bombing capability.

Note, first, that the 20-hour flight figure is almost certainly a dramatic understatement. Other reports put that figure at 36 hours, and the real number is probably higher still.

The Israeli Air Force has not had a long-range bombing capacity. But this new drone not only can easily reach Iran but also can loiter over the country for hours with a full payload. It has always been said that there are two great obstacles to an Israeli strike on the Iranian nuclear program: 1) the IAF’s lack of long-range bombing capability; and 2) the difficulty of destroying equipment that is dispersed across the country in underground bunkers. The Israelis have shown a flair for timing in unveiling a weapon that would appear to significantly solve the first problem.

Read the whole thing.

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 1:25 PM