Israel's use of UAVs expands

basis, have led the IAF to build a three-tier UAV force. A senior IAF source confirms the plans and adds that this force structure will increase the variety of missions performed by UAVs. “If we had twice the number of UAVs, we would have missions for all of them. The demand is simply high and increasing constantly,” the source says. In the last five years, the IAF has decreased by 60 percent the operational cost of its UAVs. The average flight-hour cost is currently estimated at $1,000. This is also a byproduct of technologies incorporated in new systems and the growing operational experience. The IAF is deploying new generations of vehicles as they reach maturity. The air force will soon phase out its IAI Searcher 2 UAVs and base its squadrons around yet-to-be-selected mini-UAVs, Elbit’s medium-altitude Hermes-450 (which it calls the Zik), IAI’s Heron-1 (Shoval), and the high-altitude, heavy Eitan.

While the IAF will use a three-tier fleet, the Israel Defense Force’s (IDF) ground forces command will soon select the mini-UAV for its fighting units. The main candidates are the Rafael SkyLite, Elbit’s SkyLark, and IAI’s I-view. The massive deployment of new UAV systems has created a parallel effort to develop a variety of payloads — by the manufacturers themselves and by dedicated payload companies. Electro-optic payloads are being developed by Controp, Elbit, and IAI; radar payloads by Elta, an IAI subsidiary. According to the senior IAF source, some of the new UAVs will have dual electro-optic/radar payloads for greater flexibility.

This brings us back to the competition between manned and unmanned platforms. Advanced payloads make it possible for unmanned platforms to replace manned aircraft. Only recently, the IAF equipped two of its Soval UAVs with maritime surveillance sensors and will soon operate them for the navy to replace manned patrol aircraft. “At first they will be operated parallel to the Seascan. These will gradually be phased out and the UAV will do the mission,” a senior IAF told Egozi. The air force has been operating the Seascans, modified IAI Westwind business jets, since 1978. As technology matures, Israeli companies are working to increase the variety on UAVs they produce. In the pipeline are a system which will transform a manned helicopter into an unmanned rotorcraft and a ducted-fan unman­ned vehicle developed by Urban Aeronautics. The latter is designed to be used for medevec and supply missions in combat zones (see HSDW stories from July 2006 and February 2007).

IAI’s Shlomo Tsach says that in the coming years efforts will be focused on shorter take-offs, lower operating costs, and on a greater use of solar power and fuel cells. “The miniaturization of the payloads also dictates the development of small UAVs,” he says. “With a 10 gram (0.4 oz) camera with excellent quality, the capabilities are very clear.” Tsach says that the Lockheed Martin F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, which Israel plans to purchase, will be the last manned fighter. “UAVs will take over all the missions before this aircraft will finish its operational life.”