Eye-View
Notes: Though the Israelis possessed excellent tactical reconnaissance UAVs, they realized there was a need for a lighter, short-ranged, easy-to-use UAV for local battlefield reconnaissance for commanders. The Eye-View is a basic platform for feeding still and video information to a commander in real time. It may be launched from a runway, roadway, or a truck-mounted catapult. These UAVs were also sold to several foreign countries, including South Africa, India, and several South American countries, and dozens were also sold to fire departments throughout the US for fire spotting duties.
Price |
Fuel Type |
Load |
Veh Wt |
Crew |
Mnt |
Night Vision |
$7,470 |
G, AvG |
14.97 kg |
104 kg |
2 |
2 |
Image Intensification |
Tr Mov |
Com Mov |
Mnvr/Acc Agl/Turn |
Fuel Cap |
Fuel Cons |
Ceiling |
140 |
240 (90) |
NA 115 6/3 60/30 |
52 |
8.7 |
1525 |
Guidance/Control |
Sensors/Equipment |
Takeoff/Landing |
Manual Control (Radio Link, 50 km), Autopilot |
Video Camera, Still Camera, Secure Radio, Real-Time Video Link |
Takeoff: Catapult, Runway (405m); Landing: Parachute, Net, Runway (305m); Hardened Runway |
Hermes 450
Notes: This long-endurance UAV was designed by the Israeli firm Silver Arrow. It was bought by the Israeli Air Force, and there were a large number of sales around the globe, and it can be found in almost every area of the planet. It may be fitted with a day-night camera system or a maritime search radar/sonar system. It may be launched from land bases or ships.
Price |
Fuel Type |
Load |
Veh Wt |
Ground Crew |
Mnt |
Night Vision |
$57,500 |
AvG |
150 kg |
800 kg |
3 |
4 |
FLIR, Image Intensification; or Radar, Sonar |
Tr Mov |
Com Mov |
Mnvr/Acc Agl/Turn |
Fuel Cap |
Fuel Cons |
Ceiling |
120 |
245 (95) |
NA 120 6/3 60/30 |
331 |
13.8 |
6100 |
Guidance/Control |
Sensors/Equipment |
Takeoff/Landing |
GPS, Autonomous Function, Autopilot, Manual Control (Radio Link, 200 km) |
2xVideo Cameras, 2xStill Cameras, Synthetic Aperture Radar, Secure Radio, Satcom Radio; or 20xSonobuoys, Video Camera, Still Camera, Secure Radio, Satcom Radio |
Takeoff: Catapult, Runway (530m); Landing: Runway (370m); Hardened Runway |
Hermes 1500
Notes: This is a large endurance UAV that can easily be mistaken for any number of private twin-engine passenger aircraft. It is in fact a well-appointed UAV for long-range surveillance and tactical reconnaissance. These aircraft were not used by the Israelis, but were bought by several Israeli allies and business interests, most notably the South Africans, Argentines, and Singapore, as well as some civilian scientific agencies for land survey and mapmaking.
Price |
Fuel Type |
Load |
Veh Wt |
Ground Crew |
Mnt |
Night Vision |
$108,000 |
AvG |
350 kg |
1.5 tons |
4 |
6 |
FLIR, Image Intensification, Radar |
Tr Mov |
Com Mov |
Mnvr/Acc Agl/Turn |
Fuel Cap |
Fuel Cons |
Ceiling |
240 |
490 (120) |
NA 240 7/4 70/40 |
620 |
21 |
9150 |
Guidance/Control |
Sensors/Equipment |
Takeoff/Landing |
GPS, Autonomous Function, Autopilot, Manual Control (Radio Link, 200 km) |
2xVideo Cameras, 2xStill Camera, Synthetic Aperture Radar, Mapping System, Satcom Radio; (Military Models Only) Secure Radio, Laser Designator |
630/440m Hardened Runway |
Heron
Notes: This is an Israeli very-long-endurance UAV designed for long-term surveillance of enemy rear areas, preparation work for special operations, and surveillance of enemy leadership. It resembles a small civilian aircraft, and if observed, can be easily mistaken for such an aircraft. The sensor suite is comprehensive, and it is a solid reconnaissance platform. It is equipped with long range and satellite communications. The Heron may be equipped with RATO bottles to shorten the takeoff length by 50%, and can use arrestor wires for a shorter landing zone.
Price |
Fuel Type |
Load |
Veh Wt |
Ground Crew |
Mnt |
Night Vision |
$79,000 |
AvG |
200 kg |
1.1 tons |
4 |
5 |
FLIR, Image Intensification, Radar |
Tr Mov |
Com Mov |
Mnvr/Acc Agl/Turn |
Fuel Cap |
Fuel Cons |
Ceiling |
155 |
315 (125) |
NA 155 6/3 60/30 |
288 |
5.75 |
10700 |
Guidance/Control |
Sensors/Equipment |
Takeoff/Landing |
GPS, Autonomous Function, Autopilot, Manual Control (Radio Link, 230 km) |
3xVideo Cameras, 2xStill Cameras, Synthetic Aperture Radar, Laser Designator, Secure Radio, Satcom Radio, 3xChaff Bundles, 3xIR Flares |
715m/495m Hardened Runway |
Hunter SR/E-Hunter
Notes: These medium UAVs were developed by the Israelis in 1991, and were used extensively in that country's struggles with its neighbors, with the Palestinians. They were also used by Belgium and France, and in small numbers by the US Navy and Army. The Hunter SR (Short Range) is the base model; it may be converted to the E-Hunter (Endurance) in three hours by adding wing extensions. Early versions of the Hunter were plagued by crashes, with over 20 in the year after adoption and had inadequate sensors and radios, but improvements were made and the system was fielded. The Hunter can be used with the catapult and arresting systems of naval carriers and amphibious assault ships, and can be equipped with RATO bottles to shorten the takeoff length by 50%.
Vehicle |
Price |
Fuel Type |
Load |
Veh Wt |
Ground Crew |
Mnt |
Night Vision |
Hunter SR |
$52,000 |
G, AvG |
68 kg |
726 kg |
3 |
4 |
Passive IR, Image Intensification |
E-Hunter |
$68,000 |
G, AvG |
152 kg |
953 kg |
3 |
4 |
Passive IR, Image Intensification |
Vehicle |
Tr Mov |
Com Mov |
Mnvr/Acc Agl/Turn |
Fuel Cap |
Fuel Cons |
Ceiling |
Hunter SR |
130 |
265 (125) |
NA 130 5/2 50/20 |
190 |
16.4 |
4570 |
E-Hunter |
130 |
265 (105) |
NA 130 5/2 50/20 |
190 |
8 |
9070 |
Vehicle |
Guidance/Control |
Sensors/Equipment |
Armament |
Takeoff/Landing |
(Both) |
Autopilot, Manual Control (Radio Link, 265 km), GPS |
Video Camera, Still Camera, Artillery Plotting System, Satcom System, Secure Radios |
2 Hardpoints |
Takeoff: Catapult, Runway (610m); Landing: Parachute, Runway (460m); Hardened Runway |
Mastiff
Notes: This is one of the earliest modern battlefield drones, being developed by the Israelis in 1975, and first used by them in 1982. A later version of this drone was developed by the US Air Force and Navy into the Pioneer. It is a basic drone, still used by the Israelis for low-priority work, and by Third World nations. They may take off and land on a runway conventionally, or use a catapult for takeoff and land using arrestor wires or a net.
Price |
Fuel Type |
Load |
Veh Wt |
Ground Crew |
Mnt |
Night Vision |
$9,900 |
G, AvG |
37 kg |
138 kg |
2 |
3 |
Image Intensification |
Tr Mov |
Com Mov |
Mnvr/Acc Agl/Turn |
Fuel Cap |
Fuel Cons |
Ceiling |
140 |
240 (95) |
NA 115 6/3 60/30 |
38.42 |
5.12 |
4480 |
Guidance/Control |
Sensors/Equipment |
Takeoff/Landing |
Manual Control (Radio Link, 75 km), Autopilot |
Video Camera, Still Camera, Secure Radios |
Takeoff: Catapult, Runway (395m); Landing: Parachute, Net, Runway (300m); Hardened Runway |
Micro-V
Notes: This Israeli design is meant to be used by commanders down to company level. It is lightweight, lacking in many of the refinements of larger UAVs, but is cheap and able to be easily operated. It is launched by a bungee catapult from a small vehicle such as a HMMWV or Land Rover, and parachute-landed. It can provide valuable information about the enemy without exposing friendly troops to danger.
Price |
Fuel Type |
Load |
Veh Wt |
Ground Crew |
Mnt |
Night Vision |
$3,600 |
G, AvG |
8.2 kg |
50 kg |
2 |
2 |
Image Intensification |
Tr Mov |
Com Mov |
Mnvr/Acc Agl/Turn |
Fuel Cap |
Fuel Cons |
Ceiling |
135 |
240 (80) |
NA 115 5/2 50/20 |
14 |
2.8 |
4570 |
Guidance/Control |
Sensors/Equipment |
Takeoff/Landing |
Manual Control (Radio Link, 50 km), Autopilot |
Video Camera, Still Camera, Secure Radio |
Takeoff: Catapult; Landing: Parachute |
Scout
Notes: This is an upgraded version of the Mastiff, first used in the mid-1980s, and retired from active Israeli service in the early 1990s, when they were sold off to countries like South Africa and some Third World nations. It is designed to run completely autonomously, carrying out reconnaissance missions without input from ground controllers except in emergencies. It has a more powerful engine, more responsive flight controls, and is somewhat larger.
Price |
Fuel Type |
Load |
Veh Wt |
Ground Crew |
Mnt |
Night Vision |
$11,400 |
G, AvG |
38.1 kg |
159 kg |
2 |
3 |
Image Intensification |
Tr Mov |
Com Mov |
Mnvr/Acc Agl/Turn |
Fuel Cap |
Fuel Cons |
Ceiling |
135 |
230 (95) |
NA 110 7/4 70/40 |
33.12 |
4.73 |
4575 |
Guidance/Control |
Sensors/Equipment |
Takeoff/Landing |
Manual Control (Radio Link, 100 km), Autopilot, Autonomous Function |
Video Camera, Still Camera, Secure Radios |
Takeoff: Catapult, Runway (430m); Landing: Parachute, Net, Runway (315m); Hardened Runway |
Searcher/Searcher II
Notes: These are the standard medium-duty UAVs of the Israeli forces, often used to find SAM sites and keep tabs of terrorist camps and troop movements and emplacements. It looks similar to the Scout, but is well over twice the size of that vehicle. Its systems are equipped with multiple redundancies to enable it to keep operating in the face of antiaircraft and small arms fire. The Searcher II is an even larger version of the Searcher, with larger fuel tanks for increased flight time. The Searcher may be equipped with a RATO bottle to decrease takeoff length by 50%, but cannot be catapult launched.
Vehicle |
Price |
Fuel Type |
Load |
Veh Wt |
Ground Crew |
Mnt |
Night Vision |
Searcher |
$28,700 |
G, AvG |
63.05 kg |
400 kg |
2 |
4 |
FLIR, Image Intensification |
Searcher II |
$34,400 |
G, AvG |
63.05 kg |
500 kg |
2 |
4 |
FLIR, Image Intensification |
Vehicle |
Tr Mov |
Com Mov |
Mnvr/Acc Agl/Turn |
Fuel Cap |
Fuel Cons |
Ceiling |
Searcher |
150 |
260 (100) |
NA 125 7/4 70/40 |
119 |
9.92 |
5180 |
Searcher II |
150 |
260 (100) |
NA 125 7/4 70/40 |
252 |
11.9 |
6100 |
Vehicle |
Guidance/Control |
Sensors/Equipment |
Takeoff/Landing |
(Both) |
Manual Control (Radio Link, 120/150 km), Autopilot, Autonomous Function, Target Track (Lock-On) |
2xVideo Camera, 2xStill Camera, Secure Radios, Fire Solution Computer, Secure Radio |
Takeoff: Runway (735m); Landing: Parachute, Net, Runway (540m); Hardened Runway |
Sniper
Notes: This UAV was designed by the Israeli firm Silver Arrow to compete with the Eye-View, but lost in that competition. Silver Arrow found customers in various other countries, including South America, South Africa, and Southeast Asia. Some were also sold to the US Border Patrol, Drug Enforcement Agency, and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms. It is similar in concept to the Eye-View, if not design (it looks like a miniature private aircraft). The vehicle cannot be catapult-launched, but a RATO bottle may be attached to allow a takeoff in 50% the normal length.
Twilight 2000 Notes: The plans were also stolen by Iranian spies and Snipers showed up in the Middle East during the Twilight War.
Price |
Fuel Type |
Load |
Veh Wt |
Ground Crew |
Mnt |
Night Vision |
$11,000 |
G, AvG |
25 kg |
155 kg |
2 |
2 |
Image Intensification |
Tr Mov |
Com Mov |
Mnvr/Acc Agl/Turn |
Fuel Cap |
Fuel Cons |
Ceiling |
130 |
225 (85) |
NA 110 6/3 60/30 |
78 |
7.8 |
4575 |
Guidance/Control |
Sensors/Equipment |
Takeoff/Landing |
Manual Control (Radio Link), Autopilot |
Video Camera, Still Camera, Secure Radio, Real-Time Video Link |
Takeoff: Runway (520m); Landing: Parachute, Runway (390m); Primitive Runway |