Israeli-made drones over Afghanistan

[TruthSeeker]

Israeli drones take over skies of Afghanistan

By YAAKOV KATZ

While Israeli soldiers can't fight in the war in Afghanistan, Israeli drones can. Starting next week, five NATO member countries will be operating unmanned aerial vehicles produced in the Jewish state in anti-Taliban operations in the Central Asian country.

Next week, officials from the German military will arrive to take delivery of an undisclosed number of Heron UAVs, made by Israel Aerospace Industries.

The Heron is a medium altitude long endurance UAV that can remain airborne for more than 30 hours with a cruising altitude of 30,000 feet, and can carry a payload of 250 kg. It has a wingspan of 16.6 meters, a takeoff weight of 1,200 kg. and an operational range of several hundred kilometers. It can carry a variety of sensors used for surveillance and target identification.

Germany is the fifth country to operate Israel Aerospace Industries UAVs in Afghanistan. In December, the Royal Australian Air Force took delivery of several Heron systems, joining Spain, France and Canada that already operate the platform.

Israel is a recognized world leader in the development of UAVs. In November, the Brazilian government announced that it was prepared to sign a $350 million deal to purchase Heron UAVs to patrol its cities and borders, and to provide security for the 2014 Soccer World Cup and the 2016 Olympic Games.

Later this year, Israel Aerospace Industries will hold demonstrations of the Heron for Panamanian security forces in conjunction with the US military's Southern Command. The demonstration in Panama will focus on counter-drug operations, as well as border security.

Last May, the Heron underwent a month-long evaluation by the Southern Command and the Salvadoran military to judge its suitability for counter-drug missions in Latin America and the Pacific. It was the first time that the drone, designed for intelligence gathering and surveillance, was used in such operations.

Israel: Israeli drones taking over the skies in Afghanistan | Israel | Jerusalem Post

 

[H2O3C4Nitrogen]

These Drones indeed, have become the most useful weapons of modern warfare ..!

 

[SekrutYakhni]

This news can be used to feed Talibans against India, the U.S. and Israel. This news is a good one for us. They also use news so why not us.

 

[illuminatus]

These Drones indeed, have become the most useful weapons of modern warfare ..!

All the more reason why it's becoming even more critical for Pakistan to field UCAVs in this ongoing war. These cost-effective machines are the future of the battlefield. They operate at extreme elevations and are very difficult to spot. Also, they provide valuable intel and when required can eliminate a target instantly. Pakistan has stationed many troops on both sides of the borders. The UCAVs will also pay dividends during peace times in providing airspace and ground surveillance of the border areas with Afghanistan and India. I wouldn't be wrong in claiming that UCAVs aren't a luxury any more, but a dire necessity in Pakistan's case. Everyone claims that it's almost impossible to build a fence along the porous Afghan border which is harsh and difficult terrain. Well, here too the answer lies in stationing UCAVs in these particular areas. The PA army requires a sizeable fleet of UAVs and UCAVs to be able to perform a number of tasks in difficult terrains and conditions efficiently. We need these machines more than ever.

 

[Kompromat]

Shot down by Pakistan.

 

[TruthSeeker]

These Drones indeed, have become the most useful weapons of modern warfare ..!

They are indeed useful. But the context is in a fight against an insurgency wherein the "enemy" is embedded with a civilian population. In this situation, the drone's ability to linger over a target so that the strike may be made when minimal collateral damage may be caused is the key to their usefulness. In a major engagement between conventional forces, the unarmed drones are still very useful for their reconnaissance capabilities, but the very limited firepower of the armed drones may not be of consequence.

 

[qsaark]

They are indeed useful. But the context is in a fight against an insurgency wherein the "enemy" is embedded with a civilian population. In this situation, the drone's ability to linger over a target so that the strike may be made when minimal collateral damage may be caused is the key to their usefulness. In a major engagement between conventional forces, the unarmed drones are still very useful for their reconnaissance capabilities, but the very limited firepower of the armed drones may not be of consequence.

Correct, also 'Drone' is a weapon only useful against rag tag militias, poorly trained insurgents and ill-equipped militaries. These drones could do no wonders in Lebanon against the well trained Hizb ullah. Please note that I am not talking about the next generation highly maneuverable UCAVs such as Northrop Grumman X-47B, BAE Systems Taranis, Dassault nEUROn, EADS BARRACUDA, MiG SCAT that may prove lethal even against well equipped militaries.

 

[azfar]

Shot down by Pakistan.

any source?