IAF gets next-generation UAVs for Lebanon, Gaza ops
Called the Heron, the UAV – made by Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) – is capable of remaining two days straight in the air without refueling. In comparison, the UAV currently in IAF use – called the Searcher Mk. II – can only remain in the air for 12 hours straight.
The Heron can also fly at altitudes of 30,000 feet, making it a difficult target for standard anti-aircraft weapons. It has the ability to carry a 250-kg. payload, in comparison to the 100 kg. the Searcher is able to hold. The Heron has a wingspan of 16.6 meters and weighs 1,200 kilograms, with an operation range of hundreds of kilometers and the ability to fly in all weather conditions, as well as during the day and at night.
