| IAI Heron | |
|---|---|
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| Role | Unmanned aerial vehicle |
| National origin | Israel |
| Manufacturer | Israel Aerospace Industries |
The IAI Heron (Machatz-1) is an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle 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 September 11, 2005 it was announced [1] that the Israel Defence Forces purchased US$50 million worth of Heron systems. The IDF's designation of the Heron is Machatz-1.
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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 (551 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.
Operators
Apart from Israel, the countries which operate the Heron are India and Turkey.[1] France operates a derivative of Heron named Eagle.[2] In 2008, Canada leased a Heron for use in Afghanistan. As of 2009, they have been deployed in the region.[3] As of mid-2009, Australia is leasing two Herons as part of a multi-million dollar lease to operate the vehicles in Afghanistan.[4]
List of Heron operators:
Australian Defence Force - 2
Brazilian Federal Police- 15 [5][6]
Canadian Forces - 3 on a lease contract for three years between 2008-2011[7]
Ecuadorian Air Force - 2 [8]
French Air Force - 1+
Luftwaffe - 3 plus 2 ground stations on an initial one-year lease starting in 2010 [9][10]
Indian Air Force - 10[11][12]
Israeli Defence Force - 1+
Turkish Air Force - 10
United States Southern Command - 2 [13]
Specifications
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This aircraft article is missing some (or all) of its specifications. If you have a source, you can help Wikipedia by adding them. |
Data from {name of first source}
General characteristics
- Crew: None
- Length: 8.5 m (27 ft 10 in)
- Wingspan: 16.60 m (54 ft 5 in)
- Height: ()
- Max takeoff weight: 1,150 kg (2,530 lb)
- Powerplant: 1× Rotax 914, 86 kW (115 hp)
Performance
- Maximum speed: 207 km/h (113 knots, 130 mph)
- Range: 350 km (189 nm, 217 mi)
- Service ceiling: 10,000 m (32,800 ft)
- Rate of climb: 150 m/min (492 ft/min)
- Wing loading: 200 kg/m² (40.9 lb/ft²)
- Endurance: 40+ hours
- Payload: 250 kgs
References
- ^ Heron MALE System
- ^ Eagle MALE System
- ^ http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2008/08/07/helicopters-military.html
- ^ http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,26041896-31477,00.html
- ^ Defesanet (August 2009). "Exitosa Demonstração do VANT Heron no Brasil". http://www.defesanet.com.br/br/pf_vant_2.htm. Retrieved 2009-11-05.
- ^ 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.
- ^ COPA Flight 8 (June 2009). "Canadian Forces Briefing on UAVs". http://web.ncf.ca/fn352/flight8/recent.html#UAV. Retrieved 2009-06-30.
- ^ Armada del Ecuador - ARMADA PRESENTÓ SU AVIONES NO TRIPULADOS –UAV- (spanish)
- ^ "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.
- ^ http://www.rheinmetall-defence.com/index.php?fid=5180&lang=2
- ^ http://www.strategypage.com/militaryforums/512-20022.aspx
- ^ http://us.rediff.com/news/2006/jan/06uav.htm?q=np&file=.htm
- ^ http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2009/06/15/327986/paris-air-show-heron-sees-frontline-el-salvador-anti-drugs.html
External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: IAI Heron |
- IAI Heron Official page
- IAI Heron Update
- MALE UAV Applications
- UAV Sensor applications
- EO Sensors for UAVs
- SAR sensors for UAVs
See also
Related development
Comparable aircraft
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