Israel Aerospace Industries is offering its electric tethered observation platform (ETOP) to some Latin American militaries for tactical use from ground vehicles.
Now entering advanced development, the electrically powered design is part of IAI's new product line of hovering air vehicles. Suitable for a variety of military, civilian and paramilitary missions, the tethered system can be used for observation, surveillance and other applications.
The ETOP vehicle can be deployed from a moving or stationary ground vehicle, static station or maritime platform, and offers fast response and long endurance, says IAI.
It can lift a payload of up to 20kg (44lb) and operate to a maximum altitude of 330ft (100m).
Amnon Sofrin, a senior consultant to IAI, says the air vehicle can give a combat force the ability to see the area ahead to a range of more than 5.4nm (10km).
Other system elements include ground equipment that enables the vehicle to be automatically deployed by cables, plus a mission management unit.
Within the last year, IAI has also revealed its development activities on three other hovering air vehicle designs - the Ghost, Panther and Mini Panther.
Source: Flight International
