About Me

My photo
MILITARY TECHNOLOGY (MILTECH) is the world's leading international tri-service defence monthly magazine in the English language. MILITARY TECHNOLOGY is "Required Reading for Defence Professionals". Follow us on Twitter: MILTECH1

14 May 2014

AUVSI 2014:Israel Aerospace Industries’ (IAI) Changing the Face of Unmanned Systems Yet Again

Israel Aerospace Industries’ (IAI) Malat Division spearheads the design and manufacture of UAS. Malat offers a family of systems that varies in size, mission and sensors, mainly for defence-oriented customers.

The Super HERON is the new and latest MALE UAS made by IAI/Malat. (Photos: Mönch / DPM)

Malat's family of UAS varies in size, endurance mission profile and on-board sensors, covering the full spectrum of operational requirements by providing micro and mini systems, as well as tactical close and short range, VTOL and MALE systems.

Malat systems are in operational service with 50 users, are deployed on five continents and have accumulated over 1,100,000 flight hours.

All of this vast operational expertise is incorporated in the continuously modified, upgraded and enhanced systems MALAT offers to its potential customers worldwide.

Products include the HERON family (HERON, Super HERON, HERON TP); the BIRD EYE family (BIRD EYE 400 and 650); MOSQUITO; the PANTHER family (PANTHER and Mini PANTHER); GHOST; NRUAV (Navy Rotary Unmanned Air Vehicle); ETOP (Electric Tethered Observation Platform); SEARCHER MK III; and the HUNTER UAS.

The Super HERON is the new and latest MALE UAS made by IAI/Malat. The Super HERON was added as a link between the HERON and the HERON TP UAV systems. The main features of the Super HERON are the following: A new advance propulsion system specifically developed for the Super Heron with a 200Hp heavy fuel (diesel) engine and fuel injection compared to the 100Hp gasoline engine of the HERON UAV. Fuselage and wings changes include: Provision for large and heavy payloads; provision for a large SATCOM antenna; and 5% lower drag for flight efficiency. A subsystems upgrade was also performed: Advanced avionics, triple redundancy and advanced computerised systems; advanced communication system including SATCOM for BLOS communication; multiple hard points for various payloads (fuel tanks, SIGINT, radar and more); as well as improved performance, increased maximum speed and rate of climb. The payload weight is up to 450kg.

Earlier in 2014, IAI unveiled its new Unmanned Surface Vessel (USV) combat marine system - KATANA for Homeland Security (HLS) applications.

The IAI KATANA USV supports a wide range of applications for HLS and the protection of exclusive economic zones, including - harbor security, patrol of shallow coastal and territorial waters, surface and electronic warfare and offshore platform protection (plus oil rigs, pipelines, and more).

A multifunction vessel, the KATANA is compatible with IAI's various systems and supports a totally integrated solution. This features unmanned capabilities which provide a response for the entire range of naval applications and revolutionizes maritime operations.

The system dual operational mode allows for fully autonomous operation controlled via an advanced command and control station, as well as for a manned combat operational mode. Based on a proven operational implementation of a USV system, KATANA allows for the execution of a wide variety of missions. It can provide an early-warning situation picture, classifying, identifying and tracking targets - including those far away, and eventually intercepting them if required.

KATANA's features include autonomous navigation, collision avoidance, advanced control system and more. The vessel is equipped with various payloads (including electro-optical), communication systems, radio (Line of Site, LOS, or NLOS), radar and weapon systems. The modular design of the systems allows for configurational and operational flexibility, as well as for adaption to a variety of missions, customer requirements and needs.

Based on IAI's extensive experience in converting existing vessels into USVs, KATANA can be developed based on an existing platform or as a new one. KATANA joins IAI's family of unmanned systems in space, the air, on land and at sea, enhancing customers' operational capabilities with entirely interoperable solutions.

No comments:

Post a Comment