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Sequence captured on bank of Lake ApopkaWhen it comes to nature in Florida, expect the unexpected. You never know what you might stumble across, and a sequence of photos showing Great Blue Heron devouring a juvenile alligator proves it. Danny Gilliam shared photos on his Facebook page on Dec. 6, showing a “large juvenile alligator” being eaten in whole by a Heron on the bank of Lake Apopka. Honestly, it’s mesmerizing and shocking, and many on social media agreed because his post went viral with more than 71,000 shares as of Tuesday morning. One might think alligators have the upper...

If you’ve ever wondered who would come out on top in a bird battle between a great blue heron and a red-tailed hawk (honestly, who hasn’t?), this short clip should put any doubts to rest. Mike Benard @BenardMF Bird battle today (watch to end): heron hunting gophers in field. Catches a gopher with a powerful strike. A hawk screams. Heron drops gopher, flies into air pooping and screaming. Hawk lands, steals gopher, flies away. #MerryChristmas #TeamBird Santa Cruz County, CA. 1,183 7:34 PM - Dec 21, 2019 Twitter Ads info and privacy 328 people are talking about this Mike Benard,...

Germany’s plan to lease Israeli drones has been put on hold after a legal challenge by US weapons manufacturer. In January, German Defense Minister Ursula von der Leyen announced the plan to lease Israel Aerospace Industries’ Eitan (“Steadfast”) Unmanned Aerial Vehicles. The drones, also known as Heron TPs, have a range of over 7,400 kilometers (4,600 miles), and can remain airborne for more than 70 hours. This lease was intended to serve a temporary need until 2025, when Germany, Italy and France expect to complete development of a joint drone. However, on Monday, US firm General Atomics, maker of the...

Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) has chosen the Singapore Airshow to reveal its latest UAV. The new Super Heron HF is a major update of the Heron 1 that has become a popular choice for medium-altitude, long-endurance unmanned missions. “The best just got better,” announced Joseph Weiss, IAI’s president and CEO, at yesterday’s ceremony to unveil the Super Heron HF in the show static display area, adjacent to IAI’s chalet (CD03). At first glance the most obvious new feature of the vehicle is its upturned wingtips, which have been adopted partly to offset the extra weight of other modifications. The most...

Germany 'may buy weaponised drones from Israel' (AFP) – 13 hours ago BERLIN — Germany is in talks with Israel to buy weaponised drones for its military that are seen as more technologically advanced than US ones, the weekly Der Spiegel reported. The news magazine's Monday edition said the German defence ministry had already held two meetings with Israeli military officials, in November 2012 and February 2013, on the proposed purchase. The chief of Germany's air force, Lieutenant General Karl Muellner, was said to have recently gone to Israel to attend a presentation of Israel's Heron TP drone, Der Spiegel...

The head of Greece’s Radical Left Coalition, whose strong gains in last month’s elections deepened concerns over his country’s future in the European single currency, vowed Friday to cancel Greece’s international bailout agreement if he wins an upcoming repeat ballot. Alexis Tsipras, whose Syriza party came second in the inconclusive May 6 polls, said there was no way to partially implement the terms of the bailout that the heavily indebted country has come to rely on to pay its way.

'Israeli drone spying on Turkey almost shot down' Turkish media outlet claims fighter jets called up to intercept unmanned aerial vehicle circling over missile batteries, radar equipment An Israeli drone flying over Turkey was nearly intercepted by Turkish aerial defense forces, an Istanbul-based media outlet reported on Tuesday. Two F-16 fighter jets were called-up to the area, but failed to locate the drone. "The Israeli 'Heron' drone was detected spying on military headquarters in Turkey's southern Hatay province," the report stated, adding that "the aircraft hovered over the Turkish forces in order to capture images of missile batteries and radar...

The remaining four Heron unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) out of 10 Turkey ordered from Israel are expected to be delivered to Turkey in August. Today's interactive toolbox Video Photo Audio Send to print Send to my friend Post your comments Read comments The first six UAV aircraft ordered from Israel were delivered to Turkey in March following a delay of over two years. The expected arrival of the Heron drones to Turkey comes in the midst of ongoing tension between Turkey and Israel, which came close to a breaking point on May 31 when Israeli commandoes killed eight Turkish citizens...

On June 12th, Israeli UAV technicians and instructors were recalled from Turkey, where they were training Turkish troops on how to operate and maintain five Israeli Heron UAVs. The Israeli personnel were withdrawn because it was believed they might be attacked. The Turkish government has become increasingly anti-Israel in the last six years. The Islamic politicians, who were elected in 2002, have adopted an anti-Israel, anti-West attitude, and strive to increase their stature in the Islamic world. Until 1924, the Sultan of the Turks was the Caliph (technically, the leader of all Moslems). But in the 1920s, Turkey turned itself...

The Turkish army has begun using Israeli-made unmanned aircraft to monitor Kurdish rebel movements in neighbouring Iraq, the Anatolia news agency reported Monday, quoting the army chief. "In the past 10 days, we have started using our Heron systems... the surveillance systems we bought from Israel, in the north of Iraq," General Ilker Basbug said in Canakkale, northwestern Turkey, according to Anatolia. The drones are being used "at a certain distance in the north of Iraq in coordination with the Americans," Basbug told reporters, adding that the aircraft were operated "by our own personnel." There has been media speculation that...

India is seeking to acquire Israeli killer drones for use against insurgents but possibly against terrorist groups in Pakistan and Afghanistan as well. The proposition gained momentum after the November 2008 carnage in Mumbai, India's financial capital, when Pakistani infiltrators killed 166 people in three days of bloodshed. Now New Delhi wants to muster at least 25-30 of the armed unmanned aerial vehicles from Israel, one of its key arms suppliers and a global leader in unmanned aerial vehicle technology. Asia Times Online reported that official sources in New Delhi say that India, which is the midst of a massive...

In preparation for long-range missions and possible conflict with Iran, the Israel Air Force has expanded its training programs to include rapid refueling operations on runways. It’s a dangerous practice since the aircraft’s engines are running while the fuel nozzle is still connected to the jets. The training is for both pilots and ground crews and it is being done to enable the aircraft to carry as much fuel as possible for long-range missions. Fuel nozzles are traditionally disconnected from fighter aircraft while they are still parked in hangers and before they are rolled out to the runway, where they...

This week the Israeli Air Force (IAF) held a ceremony spotlighting the "operational acceptance" of its biggest unmanned aerial vehicle, the 4.5-ton Heron TP, or "Eitan." The far-flying UAV, with a wingspan almost as long as a 737 airliner, appeared on the runway with a comparatively diminutive F-15 alongside it. The IAF already rushed this UAV into action during the 2008–'09 war in Gaza, so the ceremony really served as a reminder to Iran that its drone fleets can reach the nation. But how will Israel use them? The Eitan can carry a ton of payload and can reach Iran's...

The new drone that can remain airborne for more than 24 hours and reach as far as Iran was added Sunday to the Israeli air force's arsenal, the military said. Described by the army as a "technological breakthrough" the Eitan -- which means strong in Hebrew -- is a Heron-TP type drone with a wingspan of 26 metres (85 feet), similar to that of the Boeing 737. It is 24 metres (79 feet) long, weighs 4.5 tonnes and can remain in the air for more than 24 hours, enabling it to fly as far as Iran, Israel's arch-foe. The drone...

  The Israeli Air Force Sunday launched a new unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), dubbed "Eitan," that can stay in the air 24 hours and can reach Iran. During the ceremony, attended by Air Force Commander Major General Ido Nehushtan, the UAV was officially transferred from the Israel Aerospace Industries to the IAF.  “The ‘Eitan’ marks a technological breakthrough and a new level in the Air Force's ability to operate against threats, near and far, in its every day missions and during emergencies,” IDF spokesmen said. Military officials at the ceremony declined to say whether the new UAV was designed for use...

The Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) is an integral part of today's modern armed forces and considered as the next generation Airborne Reconnaissance. US and Israel are the most prominent users of UAV technology, their companies are successful in manufacturing them and exporting it to other countries. UAVs are said as a predecessor of ‘aerial torpedoes’ built during World War-1. The UAV is an aircraft which are remotely piloted, they are mostly assigned for the Dull, Dirty and Dangerous missions. They consist of high resolution video, digital imagery and sensors. They cover large area through way point tracking which is programmed...

A controversial order of Israeli-made Heron unmanned aerial vehicles passed critical performance tests in Israel and will soon be delivered, Turkey's top procurement official says. "Six of the aircraft have successfully passed the tests inspected by a delegation of Turkish officials," Murad Bayar, head of the government's defense procurement agency, the Under Secretariat for Defense Industries was quoted telling local media. "We are expecting their deliveries in the weeks ahead. And this closes the deal from our point of view." Similar performance tests will take place in the next few months for the remaining four UAVs included in the program....

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...

France has adapted the Israeli Heron TP UAVs to serve as a Predator substitute, until a new design can be developed in France. Equipped with a powerful (1,200 horsepower) turbo prop engine, the 4.6 ton Heron TP can operate at 45,000 feet. That is, above commercial air traffic, and all the air-traffic-control regulations that discourage, and often forbid, UAV use at the same altitude as commercial aircraft. The Heron TP has a one ton payload, enabling it to carry sensors that can give a detailed view of what's on the ground, even from that high up. The endurance of 36...

There are blue/grey herons around the world, and there are 3 in the USA, plus the Reddish Heron which has a blue cast. I seldom see a Reddish Heron this far North.I got the main trio today in just a few minutes. Little Blue Heron Egretta caerulea Tricolored heron Egretta tricolor Great Blue Heron Ardea herodias