IAI Heron

Heron
Role Unmanned aerial vehicle
National origin Israel
Manufacturer Israel Aerospace Industries
Primary users Israeli Defence Force
Indian Air Force
Indian Navy
Brazilian Federal Police
Turkish Air Force
Unit cost $10M[1]
Variants EADS Harfang
IAI Eitan

The IAI Heron (Machatz-1) is a Medium-altitude long-endurance unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) developed by the Malat (UAV) division of Israel Aerospace Industries. It is capable of Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) operations of up to 52 hours' duration at up to 35,000 feet. It has demonstrated 52 hours of continuous flight, but the effective operational maximal flight duration is less, due to payload and flight profile. There is a new version, Heron TP, also known as IAI Eitan.

On 11 September 2005, it was announced that the Israel Defence Forces purchased US$50 million worth of Heron systems.[2]

Contents

Design and development

Heron navigates using an internal GPS receiver, and either a pre-programmed flight profile (in which case the system is fully autonomous from takeoff to landing), manual override from a ground control station, or a combination of both. It can autonomously return to base and land in case of lost communication with the ground station. The system has fully automatic launch and recovery (ALR) and all-weather capabilities.

Heron can carry an array of sensors, including infra-red and visible-light surveillance, intelligence systems (COMINT and ELINT) and various radar systems, totaling up to 250 kg (550 lb). Heron is also capable of target acquisition and artillery adjustment.

The payload sensors communicate with the ground control station in real-time, using either direct line of sight data link, or via an airborne/satellite relay. Like the navigation system, the payload can also be used in either a fully pre-programmed autonomous mode, or manual real-time remote operation, or a combination of both.

Operational history

The Heron saw significant use during Operation Cast Lead in Gaza of 2008–2009. During the deployment, each brigade combat team was assigned a UAV squadron for close support. This was the first Israeli operation in which UAVs, helicopters, and fighter jets were allocated to ground forces directly without IAF central command authorizing sorties. Air-support controller teams operated alongside brigade commanders at the front emphasizing the brigade commander's utilization of direct air assets.[3] A high degree of situational awareness was achieved by maintaining at least a dozen UAVs in flight over Gaza at all times. Aerial surveillance was provided by Heron and Hermes 450 UAVs and Apache attack helicopters. Along with coordination between the Air Force and ground troops, Israel ground forces were able to utilize cooperation with the Israel Security Agency by having operatives attached to the forward units. This inter-service coordination allowed for a higher level of tactical awareness and the ability to strike time-critical targets.[4]

Other countries operating the Heron include Singapore, India and Turkey.[5] France operates a derivative of Heron named Eagle or Harfang.[6] In 2008, Canada announced a plan to lease a Heron for use in Afghanistan, starting in 2009.[7] As of mid-2009, Australia is leasing two Herons as part of a multi-million dollar lease to operate the vehicles in Afghanistan.[8]

Heron variants

Main article: EADS Harfang

Operators

 Azerbaijan
 Australia
 Brazil
 Canada
 Ecuador
 France
 Germany
 India
 Israel
 Singapore[24]
 Turkey
 United States
 Mexico

Specifications[26]

Data from {name of first source}

General characteristics

Performance

See also

Related development
Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era

References

  1. ^ http://www.isr.umd.edu/~austin/enes489p/projects2011a/BorderSecurity-Air-Team-FinalReport.pdf
  2. ^ http://www.iai.co.il/Default.aspx?docID=33336&FolderID=32540&lang=EN
  3. ^ Opall-Rome, Barbara (2009-03-08). "Maj. Gen. Ido Nehushtan". DefenceNews. http://www.defensenews.com/story.php?i=4216231&c=FEA&s=INT. Retrieved 2009-08-04. 
  4. ^ Eshel, David (2009-05-11). "New Tactics Yield Solid Victory in Gaza". Aviation Week. http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/generic/story_channel.jsp?channel=defense&id=news/GAZA031109.xml. Retrieved 2009-07-03. 
  5. ^ Heron MALE System
  6. ^ Eagle MALE System
  7. ^ "Canadian military acquiring new helicopters, drones". CBC News. 2008-08-07. http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2008/08/07/helicopters-military.html. 
  8. ^ "Capital Circle". http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,26041896-31477,00.html. 
  9. ^ http://www.tai.com.tr/prog.aspx?contentDefID=26&page=___Programs__NONE_____INTEGRATED%20HELICOPTER%20SYSTEMS__PROGRAM__2___DESIGN%20&%20DEVELOPMENT%20PROGRAMS__NONE_____%22ATAK%22%20HELICOPTER__PROGRAM__26
  10. ^ [1]
  11. ^ http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/n.php?n=8216one-project-still-in-progress-with-israel8217-2011-11-04
  12. ^ http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2011/04/18/355665/iai-offers-to-sell-heron-searcher-uavs-to-azerbaijan.html
  13. ^ McLaughlin, Andrew (April 2010). "Nankeen. The RAAF enters the UAV era with Heron lease". Australian Aviation (Fyshwick: Phantom Media) (270): p. 31. ISSN 08130876. 
  14. ^ Defesanet (August 2009). "Exitosa Demonstração do VANT Heron no Brasil". http://www.defesanet.com.br/br/pf_vant_2.htm. Retrieved 2009-11-05. 
  15. ^ Meranda, Amnon (November 2009). "Israel to supply Brazil with drones as part of $350M deal". http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3803921,00.html. Retrieved 2009-11-12. 
  16. ^ COPA Flight 8 (June 2009). "Canadian Forces Briefing on UAVs". http://web.ncf.ca/fn352/flight8/recent.html#UAV. Retrieved 2009-06-30. 
  17. ^ Armada del Ecuador – ARMADA PRESENTÓ SU AVIONES NO TRIPULADOS –UAV- (spanish)
  18. ^ "Rheinmetall Defence and Israel Aerospace Industries to Provide ISR Services for German Armed Forces in Afghanistan". defpro. 2009-10-28. http://www.defpro.com/news/details/10880/. Retrieved 2009-11-02. 
  19. ^ http://www.rheinmetall-defence.com/index.php?fid=5180&lang=2
  20. ^ http://www.strategypage.com/militaryforums/512-20022.aspx
  21. ^ http://us.rediff.com/news/2006/jan/06uav.htm?q=np&file=.htm
  22. ^ "Eye in the sky to guard Gujarat coast". The Times Of India. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ahmedabad/Eye-in-the-sky-to-guard-Gujarat-coast/articleshow/7308504.cms. 
  23. ^ http://www.iai.co.il/32540-33336-en/MediaRoom_NewsArchives_2005.aspx
  24. ^ http://www.mindef.gov.sg/imindef/news_and_events/nr/2011/mar/02mar11_nr3/02mar11_speech/02mar11_fs1.html
  25. ^ http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2009/06/15/327986/paris-air-show-heron-sees-frontline-el-salvador-anti-drugs.html
  26. ^ http://www.israeli-weapons.com/weapons/aircraft/uav/heron/heron.html
  27. ^ http://www.airforce-technology.com/features/feature65494/

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