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29-481: In April 2004, the Israeli Air Force magazine announced the existence of the programme and reported that two prototypes were already flying. In March the following year, US company Aurora Flight Sciences 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

58-703: A Heron for use in Afghanistan, starting in 2009. In mid-2009, Australia leased two Herons as part of a multimillion-dollar lease to operate the vehicles in Afghanistan. In early July 2013, the Heron reached 15,000 flight hours over Afghanistan . Australia concluded its use of the Heron in support of Operation Slipper in Afghanistan on 30 November 2014, after it had accumulated 27,000 flight hours. Royal Australian Air Force retired two Herons in June 2017. Beginning in 2021, Malta -based Herons have been used by Frontex ,

87-470: A combination of both. It can autonomously return to base and land in case of lost communication with the ground station. The system has fully automatic launch and recovery (ALR) and all-weather capabilities. The Heron can carry an array of sensors, including thermographic camera (infrared) and visible-light airborne ground surveillance , intelligence systems ( COMINT and ELINT ) and various radar systems, totaling up to 250 kg (550 lb). The Heron

116-510: A joint Franco-British MALE UAV design. Britain's Royal Air Force considered purchase of IAI Eitan UAVs in 2012. India finalized deal of 10 armed Heron TP for $ 400 million, that would add to the already existing fleet of unarmed Herons of the Indian Air Force . However, the proposal to acquire 10 armed Heron TP made no headway because of Israeli restrictions on the transfer of advanced technologies that would need to be embedded in

145-510: A media event at Tel Nof Airbase on 8 October 2007. The sensors fitted on this occasion included a synthetic aperture radar (SAR) mounted in a pod on the aircraft's belly, a multi-sensor payload carried under its nose, and two conformal signals intelligence (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

174-432: A piloted air taxi by 2023 with autonomy later depending on regulation. In spring 2019, Aurora plans to fly a High-Altitude Long Endurance drone powered by solar cells and batteries, Odysseus . Aurora won a DARPA CRANE (Control of Revolutionary Aircraft with Novel Effectors) grant to test a small-scale plane that uses compressed air bursts instead of external moving parts such as flaps. The program seeks to eliminate

203-596: Is 60 to 80 kn (110 to 150 km/h; 69 to 92 mph) and top speed over 150 kn (280 km/h; 170 mph). The Heron saw significant use during Operation Cast Lead in Gaza of 2008–2009. During the deployment, each brigade combat team was assigned a UAV squadron for close support. This was the first Israeli operation in which UAVs, helicopters, and fighter jets were allocated to ground forces directly without IAF central command authorizing sorties. Air-support controller teams operated alongside brigade commanders at

232-503: 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 hours' duration at up to 10.5 km (35,000 ft). It has demonstrated 52 hours of continuous flight, but the effective operational maximal flight duration is less, according to payload and flight profile. An advanced version,

261-406: Is also capable of target acquisition and artillery adjustment. The payload sensors communicate with the ground control station in real time, using either direct line of sight data link , or via an airborne/satellite relay. Like the navigation system, the payload can also be used in either a fully pre-programmed autonomous mode, or manual real-time remote operation, or a combination of both. At

290-651: Is at Manassas Regional Airport . In 1989, AFS was founded in Alexandria, Virginia , as a follow-on to the MIT Daedalus project. In 1991, its first aircraft was the Perseus proof of concept (POC) built for NASA which first flew at NASA Dryden . It was followed by two Perseus As and one Perseus B – built for the NASA ERAST Program . A twin engine Theseus was also built. In 1995, Aurora joined

319-736: The Global Hawk team to build composite fuselage components and tail assemblies of the RQ-4 for Northrop Grumman and the USAF . In 2002, a demonstration aircraft was flown from an altitude of 100,000 feet to simulate the low density of the Martian atmosphere . Aurora was involved in NASA programs studying how to fly on Mars . In 2008, the DARPA Vulture aimed for a UAV that could stay aloft in

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348-478: The Israel Security Agency by having operatives attached to the forward units. This inter-service coordination allowed for a higher level of tactical awareness and the ability to strike time-critical targets. Other countries operating the Heron include Singapore , India and Turkey . France operates a derivative of Heron named Eagle or Harfang . In 2008, Canada announced a plan to lease

377-540: The stratosphere for at least five years carrying a 1,000 lb (450 kg) payload: Aurora proposed three drones taking off separately then joining up in flight, to form an efficient flat wing at night, and folding into a Z to optimize solar energy collection. In 2009, as Aurora developed small vertical take-off UAVs known as the Aurora Goldeneye , the third variant of this family, the GoldenEye-80,

406-490: The Eitan can operate at altitudes above commercial air traffic and features all-weather capability, de-icing systems, automatic takeoff and landing (ATOL) systems, and triple-redundant avionics. It is a high-wing cantilever monoplane 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

435-589: The Eitan, under a teaming agreement with Rheinmetall , in pursuit of the German Air Force 's long-term "Saateg" MALE UAV requirement. On 21 May 2014, IAI signed a deal with Airbus 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

464-501: The European Border and Coast Guard Agency, to monitor migrant activity in the southern Mediterranean Sea . This activity drew controversy when it was announced that the data gathered would be shared with countries including Libya and Tunisia . The concern was that the data could be used to force irregular migrants back to their point of departure, denying them the opportunity to seek asylum in other countries. All exports of

493-578: The February 2014 Singapore Air Show , IAI unveiled the Super Heron refinement of the Heron UAS. The Super Heron has a 200-horsepower diesel engine that increases its rate of climb and performance. Its range is 250 km (160 mi) line-of-sight and 1,000 km (620 mi) by satellite control. Endurance is 45 hours at a maximum altitude of 30,000 ft (9,100 m). Cruising speed

522-652: The German government would have the choice of either a purchase option or a lease for the system. Red Baron Squadron of the Israeli Air Force is also providing training to German operatives (in addition to Israeli operatives) to operate these UAVs. 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

551-530: The Heron TP, is also known as the IAI Eitan . On 11 September 2005, it was announced that the Israel Defense Forces purchased US$ 50 million worth of Heron systems. The Heron navigates using an internal GPS navigation device , and either a pre-programmed flight profile (in which case the system is fully autonomous from takeoff to landing), manual override from a ground control station , or

580-602: 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. Data from IAI Website General characteristics Performance Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era Aurora Flight Sciences Aurora Flight Sciences (AFS) is an American aviation and aeronautics research subsidiary of Boeing that specializes in special-purpose unmanned aerial vehicles . Aurora's headquarters

609-470: The drones. An Israeli source told FlightGlobal in 2017, "The restrictions that the Israeli Ministry of Defense attaches to the export of this advanced UAV (Heron TP) are many, and in such a close competition may be a crucial factor." The Indian Army bought a total of 4 Heron TP drones from Israel in 2020. In May 2020, Greece signed a deal for the lease of 3 Heron TP for €39 million. As part of

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638-423: The front emphasizing the brigade commander's utilization of direct air assets. A high degree of situational awareness was achieved by maintaining at least a dozen UAVs in flight over Gaza at all times. Aerial surveillance was provided by Heron and Hermes 450 UAVs and Apache attack helicopters. Along with coordination between the air force and ground troops, Israeli ground forces were able to utilize cooperation with

667-454: 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 Intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition, and reconnaissance (ISTAR) role, the Eitan may also be used for aerial refuelling, and armed roles including missile defence and long-range strategic strike. A medium-altitude, long endurance (MALE) UAV,

696-462: 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 reported yet another seemingly contradictory announcement, which indicated that the maiden flight was to take place in the coming days. The Eitan was publicly unveiled at

725-459: The tail booms, and the nosewheel retracts into the fuselage. A single turboprop engine is mounted in the rear fuselage, driving a pusher propeller . Construction throughout is of composite materials. One report stated that Israel deployed Eitans in its alleged 2009 airstrike 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

754-590: The type, 210 Squadron , was inaugurated at Tel Nof in December 2010. In January 2012, an Eitan drone crashed near 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." In 2010 IAI offered

783-540: The weight, drag, and mechanical complexity involved in moving control surfaces. The air bursts modify the air pressure and flow, and change the boundaries between streams of air moving at different speeds. The company built a 25% scale prototype with 11 conventional control surfaces, as well as 14 banks fed by eight air channels. Aurora has four facilities that each have their own focus. Corporate Headquarters and Engineering are in Manassas, Virginia . A manufacturing center

812-638: Was first flown publicly at Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International 's Unmanned Systems North America trade show. On 5 October 2017, Boeing announced that it would acquire Aurora Flight Sciences. In April 2018, as DARPA allowed Aurora to transition government-funded technology for commercial applications, the tilt-wing XV-24A Lightning Strike and its distributed propulsion could be reused for an electric commercial air taxi along its lift-and-cruise prototype with vertical flight rotors and cruise fixed propellers, unveiled in 2017. Aurora plans multiple demonstrators controlled centrally by 2020 and

841-706: Was opened in Fairmont, West Virginia , in 1994, being moved to Bridgeport, West Virginia , in 2000. Another manufacturing facility was opened in Starkville, Mississippi , in 2005 before being moved to the nearby Golden Triangle Regional Airport in Columbus, Mississippi , in 2007. A research and development center was opened in Cambridge, Massachusetts in 2005 where Aurora now develops a line of micro air vehicles . IAI Heron The IAI Heron ( Machatz-1 )

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