Israel Launches UAV That Can Reach Iran

Arutz Sheva Israel National News ^ | February 21, 2010 | Tzvi Ben Gedalyahu

[Stoat]

 

The Israeli Air Force Sunday launched a new unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), dubbed "Eitan," that can stay in the air 24 hours and can reach Iran. During the ceremony, attended by Air Force Commander Major General Ido Nehushtan, the UAV was officially transferred from the Israel Aerospace Industries to the IAF.  

“The ‘Eitan’ marks a technological breakthrough and a new level in the Air Force's ability to operate against threats, near and far, in its every day missions and during emergencies,” IDF spokesmen said.

Military officials at the ceremony declined to say whether the new UAV was designed for use against Iran and did not specifically mention the Islamic Republic, but foreign news services noted that the Eitan can fly as far as Iran. Similar drones were first used during Israel's Gaza war last year.  

"The launching of this airplane is another substantial landmark in the development of unmanned aerial vehicles.” Maj.-Gen. Nehushtan said.  “They have gone from the humble beginning of their development, with initial operational results during the first Lebanon war, to the substantial and professional apparatus that now accompanies almost any air force operational frame work.”

[Stoat]

Thanks to AngelaRMLash for the Tweet

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http://defense-update.com/products/e/eitan-UAV.htm

 

Heron TP (Eitan)

Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) UAV

 

Weighing over four tons, Heron TP - also dubbed Heron 2 or “Eitan”, by its Israeli Air Force (IAF) designation - is designed to fly at high altitude on missions spanning over several days. Israel was seeking a MALE UAV capability for many years, in fact, the first application of an armed MALE UAV was considered in the mid 1990s, as an alternative for the Arrow ballistic missile defense system, also developed by IAI. 
Eitan, derived from the `heron TP platform, was developed under an Israel Ministry Of Defence (IMOD) program.

 

Apart from long range, long endurance Intelligence, Surveillance and Target Acquisition Reconnaissance (ISTAR) missions, Eitan is designed to execute a large variety of operational missions, including aerial refueling and strategic missile defense. Eitan made its maiden flight Friday, July 15, 2006 in Israel. The new MALE UAV will provide the Israel Air Force persistent, high altitude, long endurance ISR capability well beyond the reach of enemy air defenses, far beyond the Israeli borders.

While the program is unveiled in June 2007, Heron TP has already matured and, according to IAI, it is ready for serial production. Designed as a Multi-payload, Multi-mission platform to answer the requirements of the Israel Air Force, the HERON TP is powered by a single 1,200HP Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A Turbo-Prop engine, powering a four blade propeller. The use of such powerful turbo-prop engine enables the aircraft to climb and operate at altitude above 40,000 ft avoiding any airspace conflict with commercial aircraft traffic. Using on board fuel and power resources, Heron TP is able to sustain continuous missions for over 36 hours with full mission payload. The aircraft is also equipped with deicing systems protecting the aircraft when flying through icing conditions.

 

 

With maximum takeoff weight of 4650 kg, the 14 meter long aircraft can carry over 1,000 kg of sensors in its forward section, main payload bay, and the two bulges located at the end of each tail boom, offering optimal separation for specific systems. Other stores can be mounted along the wing, in internal and external positions. Heron TP could be fitted with wing hard-points for external stores. The aircraft is equipped with multiple datalinks, supporting line-of-sight (LOS) and Beyond Line of Sight (BLOS) links via satellite communications.

The giant drone maintains the twin tail boom principle offering stable and redundant design and large payload bay located around the aircraft center of gravity, uninterrupted by the landing gear. This configuration allows for quick and simple payload reconfiguration on the flight line. Emphasis has been placed on the aircraft airworthiness design. Highest safety and reliability standards are used, including triple redundancy and fully Automated Take Off and Landing were embedded in the Heron TP, enabling it to fly safely also over urban areas.

The new platform will be able to deploy multiple sensors, and fly on extended missions for extended durations, beyond the capabilities of current UAVs. To enable extended operations, Eitan uses new highly redundant avionics suite based on new generation of UAV avionics and controllers developed by RADA.

[Touch Not the Cat]

.
Looks like a P-38!

I hope they build 1,000 of them.

[Pavegunner72]

They need a Mega-UAV cabable of a Nuclear payload.

[Touch Not the Cat]

.
Yes sir.

[Stoat]

Thought this might interest you :-)

[Screaming_Gerbil]

Wow! Thanks for posting the pictures.

That thing is a lot bigger than I though it was.

I wonder if it could it take out an Iranian UAV in a dogfight?

[Screaming_Gerbil]

They need a Mega-UAV cabable of a Nuclear payload.

No, that's what sub launched cruise missiles are for.

I would like to know if they can build more of them to deal with the threat from Iran's UAVs and even enemy fighter planes.

[Stoat]

Wow! Thanks for posting the pictures.

You're quite welcome, and I'm delighted that you're finding the thread to be worthwhile :-)

That thing is a lot bigger than I though it was.

It's a monster, isn't it? ;-) GO ISRAEL!

I wonder if it could it take out an Iranian UAV in a dogfight?

If it can't, I'll wager that one of our new laser cannons can

Boeing 747 uses laser to destroy missile (includes video report)

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2450388/posts

and there may come a day when the laser systems have been miniaturized to the point where they can be carried on aircraft such as this. Remember, the very first defibrillator put to use by the Seattle Fire Dept. in the 1970's required a truck to carry it. Now they are smaller than a suitcase and a petite lady can easily carry one. Miniaturization of technology can achieve amazing things, given adequate time.

 

[SJackson]

Middle East and terrorism, occasional political and Jewish issues Ping List. High Volume

If you’d like to be on or off, please FR mail me.

..................

[ProtectOurFreedom]

“Medium Altitude, Long Endurance” — how I long for those days

[taildragger]

See the light between the Flaps and the wing?

Slotted, also the ailerons or are they just drooping (Spoilers for roll control? perhaps).

More lift on takeoff and landing.

Interesting

[Slings and Arrows]

"Looks like I picked the wrong day to give up sniffing glue."

[LomanBill]

"What... is the average flying speed of an African swallow ladened with a nuclear warhead?"

[hennie pennie]

*ping*

[Jack Hydrazine]

My only question I have is will Obama allow Israel to fly those through Iraqi airspace.

[NickFlooding]

He’ll find out after the fact, not before.

[Jack Hydrazine]

I hope they have stealth because BamBam will send our guys to shoot them down. BamBam’s gotta protect his own (Muslim’s that is).

[Halgr]

I hope they build thousands and thousands of those.....overwhelm Iranian air defense.

GOOOOOO

ISRAEL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Thanks.,

[PhilDragoo]

Enormous compared to the twelve Shadows just given to Pakistan.

Islamists seethe with MALE envy.