The Heron MK II, an updated model of the Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) Heron UAV will make its global debut in Singapore. The new Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) will benefit from IAI’s extensive experience with UAVs (> 1,800,000 cumulative flight hours and over 50 operational customers) and feature some of the company’s most advanced technologies.
“We are proud to introduce another major development in IAI’s UAVs. The Heron MK II allows for considerable expansion of the operational package with an emphasis on standoff intelligence collection. The new member of the Heron family, already considered one of the prime strategic UAVs in the world, allows us to expand our range of operational solutions we offer our customers,” says IAI Executive Vice President and General Manager of the Military Aircraft Group, Moshe Levy.
The Heron MK II will be offered in new configurations, including those with long- range observation sensors and radars. A wide range of additional payloads such as: Electronics Intelligence (ELINT), Communications Intelligence (COMINT), special and more will also be available. IAI is highlighting the new MALE UAV’s ‘Standoff Capability’ due to its ability to carry larger and improved sensors.
The Heron MK II has a wider and stronger body structure (with no weight penalty), as a result of improved manufacturing technologies and this will facilitate quick and easy maintenance. The Heron MK II can attain a maximum speed of 140 knots, an altitude of 35,000 feet and is powered by a Rotax 915 iS engine. It can remain in the air for 45 consecutive hours. IAI has also improved the avionics of the Heron MK II. IAI’s Heron family of UAVs is in use with the Israeli Air Force and are operational with over 20 other organizations worldwide.
