The IAI Eitan (איתן – "Steadfast"; export designation Heron TP) is an
unmanned
An uncrewed vehicle or unmanned vehicle is a vehicle without a person on board. Uncrewed vehicles can either be under telerobotic control—remote controlled or remote guided vehicles—or they can be autonomously controlled—autonomous vehicl ...
reconnaissance aircraft
A reconnaissance aircraft (colloquially, a spy plane) is a military aircraft designed or adapted to perform aerial reconnaissance with roles including collection of imagery intelligence (including using photography), signals intelligence, as ...
developed in Israel in the early 21st century by the Malat division of
Israel Aerospace Industries
Israel Aerospace Industries (Hebrew: התעשייה האווירית לישראל ''ha-ta'asiya ha-avirit le-yisra'el'') or IAI (תע"א) is Israel's major aerospace and aviation manufacturer, producing aerial and astronautic systems for both mi ...
.
[Egozi 2008] The aircraft is a newer version of the
IAI Heron
The IAI Heron (Machatz-1) is a medium-altitude long-endurance unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) developed by the Malat
(UAV) division of Israel Aerospace Industries. It is capable of Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) operations of up to 52 h ...
.
Development
In April 2004, the Israeli Air Force magazine announced the existence of the programme and reported that two prototypes were already flying.
["IAI Heron TP Eitan"] In March the following year, US company
Aurora Flight Sciences
Aurora Flight Sciences is an American aviation and aeronautics research subsidiary of Boeing which primarily specializes in the design and construction of special-purpose Unmanned aerial vehicles. Aurora has been established for 20+ years and th ...
announced a joint venture to market the aircraft under the name Orion.
Aurora hoped to have a machine flying during 2007, but by the middle of that year, the company had not released anything further about the project.
Meanwhile, reports emerged of a "first flight" for the Eitan in Israel on 15 July 2006, despite the previous reports that the aircraft had already been flying two years previously.
In late January 2007, ''
Yedioth Ahronoth
''Yedioth Ahronoth'' ( he, יְדִיעוֹת אַחֲרוֹנוֹת, ; lit. ''Latest News'') is a national daily newspaper published in Tel Aviv, Israel. Founded in 1939 in British Mandatory Palestine, ''Yedioth Ahronoth'' is the largest paid n ...
'' reported yet another seemingly contradictory announcement, which indicated that the maiden flight was to take place in the coming days.
["Eitan: Israel develops the world's largest UAV"]
The Eitan was publicly unveiled at a media event at
Tel Nof Airbase
Tel Nof Israeli Air Force ( he, בָּסִיס חֵיל-הַאֲוִויר תֵּל נוֹף) , also known as Air Force Base 8, is one of three principal airbases of the Israeli Air Force. It is located near Rehovot, Israel.
Tel Nof houses seve ...
on 8 October 2007.
[Egozi 2007][Opall-Rome 2007] The sensors fitted on this occasion included a
synthetic aperture radar
Synthetic-aperture radar (SAR) is a form of radar that is used to create two-dimensional images or three-dimensional reconstructions of objects, such as landscapes. SAR uses the motion of the radar antenna over a target region to provide fine ...
(SAR) mounted in a pod on the aircraft's belly, a multi-sensor payload carried under its nose, and two conformal
signals intelligence
Signals intelligence (SIGINT) is intelligence-gathering by interception of ''signals'', whether communications between people (communications intelligence—abbreviated to COMINT) or from electronic signals not directly used in communication ( ...
(SIGINT) arrays.
Additional sensors may be carried at the ends of the tail booms.
Analysis of the configuration presented to the media suggests an aircraft intended for deep penetration roles and on-board SIGINT processing capability.
However, at the media event an IAF official stated that IAI and the IAF had tested "all kinds of payloads, in all kinds of configuration schemes."
Apart from its
(ISTAR) role, the Eitan may also be used for aerial refuelling, and armed roles including missile defence
and long-range strategic strike.
["Israel AF Hones Manned-UAV Mix"]
Design
A medium-altitude, long endurance (MALE) UAV,
["Heron TP"] the Eitan can operate at altitudes above commercial air traffic
and features all-weather capability,
de-icing systems,
["IAI's Heron TP UAV sets new technological and operational records"] automatic takeoff and landing (ATOL) systems,
and triple-redundant avionics.
It is a high-wing cantilever
monoplane
A monoplane is a fixed-wing aircraft configuration with a single mainplane, in contrast to a biplane or other types of multiplanes, which have multiple planes.
A monoplane has inherently the highest efficiency and lowest drag of any wing confi ...
with wings of high
aspect ratio. Booms extend rearward from the wings and carry twin tails that are joined by a common horizontal stabiliser. The main units of the tricycle undercarriage retract into the tail booms, and the nosewheel retracts into the fuselage. A single
turboprop
A turboprop is a turbine engine that drives an aircraft propeller.
A turboprop consists of an intake, reduction gearbox, compressor, combustor, turbine, and a propelling nozzle. Air enters the intake and is compressed by the compressor. Fuel ...
engine is mounted in the rear fuselage, driving a
pusher propeller
In an aircraft with a pusher configuration (as opposed to a tractor configuration), the propeller(s) are mounted behind their respective engine(s). Since a pusher propeller is mounted behind the engine, the drive shaft is in compression in nor ...
. Construction throughout is of composite materials.
Operational history
One report stated that Israel deployed Eitans in its alleged 2009
airstrike
An airstrike, air strike or air raid is an offensive operation carried out by aircraft. Air strikes are delivered from aircraft such as blimps, balloons, fighters, heavy bombers, ground attack aircraft, attack helicopters and drones. The offic ...
against an alleged Gaza-bound Iranian arms convoy traveling through Sudan.
In February 2010 the Israeli Air Force unveiled its new fleet of Eitans. The first unit to operate the type,
210 Squadron, was inaugurated at
Tel Nof
Tel Nof Israeli Air Force ( he, בָּסִיס חֵיל-הַאֲוִויר תֵּל נוֹף) , also known as Air Force Base 8, is one of three principal airbases of the Israeli Air Force. It is located near Rehovot, Israel.
Tel Nof houses sev ...
in December 2010. In January 2012, an Eitan drone crashed near
Hafetz Haim
Hafetz Haim (, ''lit.'' desirous of life) is a religious kibbutz in central Israel. Located in the Shephelah, it falls under the jurisdiction of Nahal Sorek Regional Council.
In it had a population of .
History
The land on which Hafetz Haim ...
during tests of new payloads; no injuries were reported.
The IDF does not comment on the arming of drones, but reports describe the Eitan being used for “armed roles” with missiles “attached to wing hardpoints,” as well as for target acquisition.
Used allegedly during several operations, will help government-owned IAI market its latest drone models as “combat-proven systems.”
Exports
In 2010 IAI offered the Eitan, under a teaming agreement with
Rheinmetall
Rheinmetall AG is a German automotive and arms manufacturer, headquartered in Düsseldorf, Germany. Its shares are traded on the Frankfurt stock exchange.
History
Rheinmetall was founded in 1889. Banker and investor Lorenz Zuckermandel
L ...
, in pursuit of the
German Air Force
The German Air Force (german: Luftwaffe, lit=air weapon or air arm, ) is the aerial warfare branch of the , the armed forces of Germany. The German Air Force (as part of the ''Bundeswehr'') was founded in 1956 during the era of the Cold War a ...
's long-term "Saateg" MALE UAV requirement. On 21 May 2014, IAI signed a deal with
Airbus
Airbus SE (; ; ; ) is a European Multinational corporation, multinational aerospace corporation. Airbus designs, manufactures and sells civil and military aerospace manufacturer, aerospace products worldwide and manufactures aircraft througho ...
to team up on a bid for a bridging contract to supply the German armed forces with the Heron TP from 2015 until 2020. A current contract between the companies to supply Germany with the Heron is set to expire by 2015. Airbus said the German government would have the choice of either a purchase option or a lease for the system.
In 2011 France selected the IAI Eitan for the French military. The deal was cancelled later in November 2011 by the French senate with the funds being allocated to a joint Franco-British MALE UAV design.
Britain's
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force (RAF) is the United Kingdom's air and space force. It was formed towards the end of the First World War on 1 April 1918, becoming the first independent air force in the world, by regrouping the Royal Flying Corps (RFC) and ...
considered purchase of IAI Eitan UAVs in 2012.
India finalized deal of 10 armed Heron TP for $400 million. It will add to already existing fleet of unarmed Herons of Indian air force.
In May 2020, Greece signed a deal for the lease of 3 Heron TP for 39 million €. As part of the agreement, the IMOD will lease the Heron system in its maritime configuration to Greece over three years, with an option to purchase the system upon completion of the leasing period.
Operators
;
*
Israeli Defence Force
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF; he, צְבָא הַהֲגָנָה לְיִשְׂרָאֵל , ), alternatively referred to by the Hebrew-language acronym (), is the national military of the State of Israel. It consists of three service branch ...
– 10-15 aircraft (est.)
;
*
Indian Air Force
The Indian Air Force (IAF) is the air arm of the Indian Armed Forces. Its complement of personnel and aircraft assets ranks third amongst the air forces of the world. Its primary mission is to secure Indian airspace and to conduct aerial w ...
- 10
;
*
Hellenic Air Force
, colours =
, colours_label =
, march =
, mascot =
, anniversaries = 8 November
, equipment =
, equipment_label ...
- 3
;
*
German Air Force
The German Air Force (german: Luftwaffe, lit=air weapon or air arm, ) is the aerial warfare branch of the , the armed forces of Germany. The German Air Force (as part of the ''Bundeswehr'') was founded in 1956 during the era of the Cold War a ...
- 3
Specifications
See also
References
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External links
{{IAI aircraft
2000s Israeli military reconnaissance aircraft
Eitan
Single-engined pusher aircraft
Twin-boom aircraft
Single-engined turboprop aircraft