Innovative Approach for Future Aircraft Development at IAI

A description of the innovative approach of airplane development at Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) Engineering & Development Group is presented.

The approach is a structured process including several steps and is the key to new product introduction. The first step is the generation of ideas, followed by a feasibility study and a product definition.

These steps are preliminary for either a demonstration program or a full-scale development program. The paper defines the innovation and describes the main elements, including the market demand evaluation, technologies evolution and product characteristics definition.

Typical examples of results of the innovation process at IAI are the Heron I Unmanned Air Vehicle (UAV) and the Mosquito micro UAV. Planned programs are the next generation of a Very Light Jet (VLJ), more autonomous aircraft, Autonomous Personal Air Vehicle (APAV) and in parallel the evaluation of electrical propulsion, solar UAV and other directions. 

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Elbit Systems / Hermes® 900 UAS

The Hermes 900 Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) designed and built by Elbit Systems, made its first flight December 9, 2009 in the northern Negev desert. Unlike other Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) UAV systems, such as the MQ-1 Predator, MQ-9 Reaper and Heron I, the Hermes 900 can be operated as part of existing, tactical UAV units currently operating the smaller Hermes 450, dramatically extending mission endurance, payload capacity and operational capabilities, without fielding additional infrastructure and support.

IAI unveils advanced intelligence system for unmanned platforms

Israel Aerospace Industries unveiled a sensor system for air, sea, and groundbased unmanned platforms, which enables them to build up an intelligence picture of their surroundings based on the signals emitted from other military platforms.

IAI released an image of its Heron 1 unmanned aerial vehicle, which is used by the Israel Air Force and several foreign air forces, with the system on board. It will also go on display for the first time next week in Orlando, at a trade show organized by the Association for Unmanned Vehicles Systems International.

The COMINT (COMmunications INTelligence) system, called ELK-7065 3D HF, is made by IAI’s subsidiary, ELTA. It identifies and tracks the sources of surrounding signals, such as power, radio broadcasts, or geo-location communications, and creates an intelligence database known as an “electronic order of battle picture,” IAI said in a statement.

The system “allows for better classification and distinction of incoming signals,” IAI added. If installed in drones, it requires “comparatively very small antennas,” IAI said. If installed in ship-based or ground unmanned platforms, a small antenna is sufficient. “This revolutionary product has aroused keen interest from multiple customers around the world for symmetric and asymmetric warfare applications. Until now, this type of intelligence capability was enabled only by antenna arrays measuring tens of meters. This compact installation enables smaller platforms to perform the COMINT mission with unparalleled mobility and flexibility,” IAI continued.

Spain: Europe Demos Heron UAV In Civil Air Space

 

The European Space Agency (ESA) and European Defense Agency (EDA) demonstrated a Heron 1 unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) in civil airspace April 24 from San Javier Air Base in Murcia, Spain. (Read more)

 

 

Singapur adquiere un UAV Heron 1

La Fuerza Aerea de Singapur (Singapore Air Force - SAF) ha recibido su nuevo UAV Heron 1 fabricado por Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI).

En palabras del Ministro de Defensa Ng Eng Hen "Hoy día utilizamos los UAVs de manera rutinaria tanto para entrenamientos como para operaciones."

A este respecto, conviene recordar que en 2010 Singapur desplegó en Afganistán un par de UAVs Searcher 2 (tambien fabricados por IAI) junto con un equipo de 50 hombres, al objeto de vigilar las carreteras que rodean la base aerea de Tarin Kowt, ubicada en la provincia de Uruzgan.