The Israeli Air Force Marks 40 years of UAV Operational Use

The Israel Air Force (IAF) has marked on Sunday (2.10.2011) 40 years since the establishment of its first Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) Squadron #200, located at the IAF base in Palmachim. A ceremony was held in the presence of current squadron members and veterans, including IAF Commanding Officer, MGen. Ido Nehushtan, senior officials from the Israel Ministry of Defense (IMoD), the IMoD R&D branch, and representatives of the Israeli defense companies whose engineering talent and innovative skills have collectively pioneered to where Israeli UAVs are today. Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) has led the IAF’s UAS development over the past 30 years, since fielding the IAF’s first ever operational UAS, the “Scout” and through today’s “Heron Turbo Prop” (Heron TP) UAS. The Scout UAV entered IAF operational service in 1981,and excelled in the 1982 Operation Peace for Galilee (First Lebanon War) being retired only in 2004. IAI’s Searcher UAV became operational in 1992 and underwent an upgrade in 1998 with entry of the “Searcher II” that included better engine performance, and advanced navigation and communication systems. In addition to the IAF, Searcher is in service with 10 different customers world wide, including the Spanish Air Force that operates it in Afghanistan. […]
The Israeli Air Force Marks 40 years of UAV Operational Use