Belgian Government orders Israeli UAV
The Belgian government has selected Israel Aircraft Industries Hunter unmanned air vehicle (UAV) as a replacement for the army's Epervier UAV used for battlefield surveillance.
The Epervier, based on a Northrop design, was developed in the 1960s by SABCA, the local aerospace company. Like the Epervier itss successor, the Israeli UAV, will also be built in Belgium and designated the B-Hunter..
IAI won the BFr 2.5 billion ($71.4 million) contract against competition from French companies SAGEM and Thomson.
A specially formed consortium, known as Eagle, and led by IAI's Malat division along with Belgian companies Sonaca, Alcatel Bell Space & Defence, Alcatel ETCA and SAIT Systems won the deal.
The order is for three systems each with six aircraft. The 18 aircraft will be manufactured at the Sonaca plant at Gosselies, while the Alcatel and SAIT subsidiaries will produce components.
The first aircraft is scheduled to be delivered in August 2000.
Hunter is already in overseas service with the US Army and a system has also been purchased by the French Army for evaluation.
Source: Flight International
