Details of the Malat Heron 2 unmanned air vehicle, which will be the launch platform for Israel's Boost Phase Launcher Interceptor (BPLI) programme, have started to emerge.
BPLI is intended to be a system capable of destroying ballistic missiles on their launchers. As well as sensors to detect missile launches and the transporter-erector-launcher vehicles, the BPLI UAV will be equipped with heat-seeking missiles and potentially other weapons.
Malat, the UAV division of Israel Aircraft Industries, is also developing other new UAVs for a variety of combat missions, according to Menachem Shmul, general manager of IAI's military aircraft division.
He says that Heron 2 "will be one of the most advanced UAV systems ever designed", and will be equipped with third and fourth generation sensors, including radar systems. Israeli government officials have stated recently that developing a BPLI prototype will cost $400 million.
Shmul says all the UAVs under development at Malat will be elements within a "system of systems", integrating with other battlefield systems through high- bandwidth, high-speed datalinks. They will also have larger ground stations containing some of the computing capacity required to conduct the missions.
Shmul reveals that the Heron 2 will have a 26m (85.3ft) span and will be 15m long. The take-off weight will be more than 3t. Today's Heron has a 16.6m span and a 50h endurance with a 250kg payload.
Source: Flight International
