Intelligence

First Operational SAR/GMTI Payload On IAI Tactical UAV

Jun 18, 2001

Paris Air Show, June 2001 - Israel Aircraft Industries Ltd. (IAI) and its subsidiaries ELTA Electronics Industries Ltd and the MALAT UAV Division have announced that the ELTA EL/M-2055 Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) payload has successfully been integrated in the MALAT Searcher II tactical UAV system. This is the first tactical UAV to carry an operational SAR sensor providing all weather intelligence capability.

The EL/M-2055 SAR provides a true all weather capability generating SAR images that approach photographic quality. Its SAR-Strip mode offers a high coverage rate at standoff rages, while the SAR-Spot mode enables high resolution and detailed examination of a designated area of interest for target classification. The Ground Moving Targets Identification (GMTI) mode may scan large areas, to allow instant detection of moving targets.

The Searcher Mk II System is an operational, advanced fourth generation UAV system. The Searcher Mk II has excellent aerodynamic performance, superior deployment and handling capabilities and a new advanced universal UAV mission ground control center interoperable with all MALAT systems. Searcher systems are in operational use with the IDF and other foreign customers.

Searcher Mk II Specifications

Max Range 200-250 km
Endurance 15 hours
Max Altitude 20,000 ft (6,000 km)

Technical Data

Max Take-off Weight 426 kg
Max Payload Weight 100 kg
Wing Span 8.55 m
Overall Length 5.85 m
Power plant AR-68-1000 73 hp

For more information, contact:
Doron Suslik
Deputy Corp VP for Communications
Tel: 972 (3) 93 5-8509
Fax: 972 (3) 935-8512
Email: hpaz@hdq.iai.co.il