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IAI Working on Increasing UAV Speed

: Jul 4, 2019 - : 5:25 am

By Arie Egozi

The speed of UAV has become a crucial factor and the Israeli manufacturers are working to increase it.

In certain missions the speed of a UAV is essential. Israeli aerospace industries (IAI) is in the middle of a development effort to increase the speed of some of its UAV that perform maritime missions.

As the Israeli navy like other navies, constantly transfer these missions from manned aircraft to UAV, the need for speed becomes crucial.

“When a UAV is on a maritime patrol mission, speed is essential. Something suspicious is detected some distance from the shore or crucial installation and you want to be able to investigate it as soon as possible, at least in the speed offered by manned maritime mission aircraft,” said Avi Bleser VP marketing & sales of IAI military aircraft group.

“We are developing ways of increasing the speed of UAV used for maritime missions.”

The Israeli Airforce (IAF) some years ago decided to phase out its B-200 maritime patrol aircraft that have been operated jointly with the navy.

This after a decision has been made to transfer all the missions of this platform to the Heron -1 and HeronTP UAV.

The B-200 squadron was the busiest in the IAF.

Based on the strategic capabilities of the Heron-TP the IAF commander recently decided to multiply the number of UAV that the squadron operates.

The increase in the number of Israel aerospace industries (IAI) Heron – TP UAV is part of the IAF’s UAV master plan meant to build the force’s UAV arsenal in the coming 15 years.

To perform the missions of the manned reconnaissance aircraft , the Heron-TP is being equipped with new sensors and new communication systems. Speed is crucial in these missions.

UAV’s are currently operating more than 50 % of the total flight hours performed by the IAF and this number is going to increase as new capabilities are added to currently operated systems. New UAV’s are now in the development phases and will enter service in the coming years.

The max speed of the Heron-1 is app. 120 Kts, the maximum speed of the Heron -TP is app. 200 Kts and the max speed of 490 Kts achieved by the P-8 maritime patrol aircraft based on a Boeing 737.

“In order to cover huge section of sea the UAS equipped with the maritime patrol sensors must have more speed.”

IAI is in the midst of the speed increase effort but no details are available.

The speed increase will involve mainly two factors- using engines with higher thrust and decreasing the UAV drag. These are no minor changes in two very mature UAV but the efforts is on.

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