Israel Aircraft Industries (IAI) is developing aversion of its Harpy anti-radiation missile/unmanned air vehicle (UAV) equipped with a datalink that will allow ground forces to allocate targets to the UAV.
Harpy, manufactured by IAI's MBT division, is ground launched and flies to a pre-designated area where it begins a loitering pattern, seeking electromagnetic emissions. Once a target has been detected, the warhead-equipped Harpy dives on the emitter. Harpy is in service with India, Israel and South Korea.
The new version will be equipped with a dual electromagnetic/electro-optical sensor and the datalink. This will allow the launch of a "squadron" of Harpys into a pre-designated area. The UAVs will still loiter, but will also receive continuous updates on potential targets and attack them according to operational priority set by a ground station or an aircraft.
• IAI has started negotiations with an unnamed potential customer for a new ship-launched, anti-surface-vessel missile, dubbed the B-8. MBT put the programme on hold following Singapore's decision not to acquire the weapon (Flight International, 17-24 October). Development costs are estimated at $700 million.
Source: Flight International
