Posted on 01/23/2010 1:28:07 AM PST by ErnstStavroBlofeld
While Israeli soldiers can't fight in the war in Afghanistan, Israeli drones can. Starting next week, five NATO member countries will be operating unmanned aerial vehicles produced in the Jewish state in anti-Taliban operations in the Central Asian country.
Next week, officials from the German military will arrive to take delivery of an undisclosed number of Heron UAVs, made by Israel Aerospace Industries.
The Heron is a medium altitude long endurance UAV that can remain airborne for more than 30 hours with a cruising altitude of 30,000 feet, and can carry a payload of 250 kg. It has a wingspan of 16.6 meters, a takeoff weight of 1,200 kg. and an operational range of several hundred kilometers. It can carry a variety of sensors used for surveillance and target identification.
Germany is the fifth country to operate Israel Aerospace Industries UAVs in Afghanistan. In December, the Royal Australian Air Force took delivery of several Heron systems, joining Spain, France and Canada that already operate the platform.
Israel is a recognized world leader in the development of UAVs. In November, the Brazilian government announced that it was prepared to sign a $350 million deal to purchase Heron UAVs to patrol its cities and borders, and to provide security for the 2014 Soccer World Cup and the 2016 Olympic Games.
Later this year, Israel Aerospace Industries will hold demonstrations of the Heron for Panamanian security forces in conjunction with the US military's Southern Command. The demonstration in Panama will focus on counter-drug operations, as well as border security.
Last May, the Heron underwent a month-long evaluation by the Southern Command and the Salvadoran military to judge its suitability for counter-drug missions in Latin America and the Pacific. It was the first time that the drone, designed for intelligence gathering and surveillance,
(Excerpt) Read more at jpost.com ...
Oh man, the Jihadist went side ways over Bible quotes on the ACOG’s, they’re gonna stroke twice and have a small litter of kittens when they get this news...
Special Attention: Old Sarge
Kind’a cool.
Starting next week, five NATO member countries will be operating unmanned aerial vehicles produced in the Jewish state in anti-Taliban operations in the Central Asian country.Oh man, this means there will be dozens of atrocities at wedding receptions and baby food factories. Thanks sonofstrangelove.
As far as a surveillance tool, I don’t really see too much trouble from world organizations like the UN, but as they are being effective weapons, and more and more countries are going to end up producing them, they will become a major issue in world politic about their legallity.
Is the US taking the appropriate counter measures that they won’t be effectively used against US? Especially considering the constantly improving technology that will miniaturize them, and make them more and more efficient? I could imagine flying these drones with flocks of geese undetected eventually.
Is the US, and/or Israel paving the legal way to building and owning these unmanned squadrons?
Next, they are going to want to remove the cross from inside the those rifle scopes.
With stealth and no pilot fly them in and out.
Looks like something out of Nazi aircraft production during WWII.
They are looking at UAV’s equipped with directed energy as a counter-UAV weapon -in many cases, mere functional kill would be plenty.
My guess is in secret we already are testing them at remote facilities —the eventual emergence of UAV’s as anti-air assets has 2b bloody obvious to all.
Nifty News. It sounds veddy familiar...
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