Tel Aviv, Nov 5 (PTI) Israel is close to striking a USD 230 million deal with India under which it would sell 50 Eagle/Heron unmanned aerial vehicles to New Delhi.
"The details of the deal has been almost finalised by the two sides," senior defence sources said.
Eagle/Heron is a Medium-Altitude Long-Endurance type unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), commonly referred to as drone, that can operate at a distance of more than 1,000 kilometres and at altitudes above 25,000 feet for over 24 hours, providing real-time intelligence.
The system also features automatic take-off and landing, integrated mission planning and sensor technology, and can simultaneously carry a wide range of payloads. PTI
Heron UAV
The Heron UAV System is an operational fourth generation long-endurance medium-altitude system based on leading-edge technology with new fully automatic take-off and landing features. It provides deep-penetration, wide-area, real-time intelligence to national agencies, theater commanders and lower echelons.
The Heron provides ample modular space up to 250 kg for customer furnished equipment, is interoperable with other MALAT UAV systems and has demonstrated 52 hours of continuous flight.
Missions
Medium Altitude and Long Endurance (MALE) Strategic UAV System for surveillance, reconnaissance, target-acquisition & artillery adjustment and/or CFE based missions.
Operational Modes
- Real-time payload and UAV control
- GPS based interuptable airborne mission controller
- Full autonomous flight
- Autonomous return on datalink loss
- Datalinks
Direct line-of-sight datalink
- UAV aitborne data relay for beyond-line-of-sight datalink
- Dual real-time command uplink
- Single real-time data and video downlink
- Satellite Datalink Integration capability
Payloads
- Standard MOSP (TV & IR Combi)
- SAR EL/M 2055
- Maritime Patrol Radar
- Customer furnished payloads
Performance
- Endurance 40 Hr
- Range 200*km (105* nm), 350**km (185**nm), 1,000***km(530***nm)
- Altitude 30,000 ft
* Direct line-of-sight datalink
** Beyond-line-of-sight datalink using UAV airborne data relay
*** Autonomous flight
Launch & Recovery
- Automatic Take-off and landing. Technical Data
- Weights: Max Take-off Weight 1,100 kg (2,430 lb) Max Payload Weight 250 kg (550 lb)
- Dimensions Overall Length 8.50 m (27.90 ft) Wingspan 16.60 m (54.50 ft)
- Powerplant Dual engines, 4 cycle, 4 cylinder with turbo charge 100 hp