Unmanned Aircraft Growing in Importance

Unmanned air vehicles, recent conflicts have amply demonstrated, are increasing in importance for both support and combat missions. UAVs are being used for intelligence gathering for tactical operations and at the strategic level. Each mission requires a different profile and capabilities, characterized by operational range and endurance, payload type and weight, and other demands.

Israel has emerged as a leader in UAV systems manufacturing. Builders including IAI/Malat and Elbit's Silver Arrow tailor their products to comply with three specific mission profiles -- the traditional tactical role, represented by Malat's Searcher II, Hunter and Silver Arrow Hermes 450. Malat's Heron and Silver Arrow Hermes 1500 can fulfill high- or medium-altitude long endurance missions. Each company is using specific avionics architecture, datalink and ground stations common to its own designs. However, few common systems are also used including such payloads as the IAI/Tamam Multi-mission Optronic Stabilized system (MOSP), or the Datalink 2000 system, provided by Spectralink from the Elisra group.

Silver Arrow is introducing here a new member of its Hermes family, the S-180. It's competing on the British Watchkeeper tactical UAV program against UAVs from Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman and BAE.

Hermes S-180

Elbit is teaming with Thales to offer a new platform for tactical (brigade level) missions. The system uses a unique design, catapult launch and parachute and airbag landing, to simplify handling. The multi-sensor payload is specially designed by El-Op, to accommodate a TV, FLIR and laser designator on a single stabilized platform through a single window, in a 32-kg payload.
IAI/Tamam's Plug-In Optronic Payload (POP-200) is also visible here, fitted with the Aeronautics' new Aerosky UAV, on display at the Israel Aircraft Industry stand. Aerosky is designed to utilize the POP payload, as well as the Controp DSP-1 day/night TV/FLIR payload, which is also here. While Aerosky is visibly similar to the older IAI/MALAT Pioneer, a dramatic reduction in the weight was achieved by implementing new avionics system.

By Tamir Eshel