Israel Aerospace Industries' (IAI) Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) Heron TP, also known as the "Eitan", officially entered service into the Israel Air Force (IAF) in a ceremony attended by senior officials of the IAF, Israel Ministry of Defense, and IAI.
Major General Ido Nehushtan, IAF Commander, praised the aircraft's significance on the battlefield, its ability to complete a variety of IAF long-range missions, and its critical role in air force missions covering a broad array of scenarios.
The 'Eitan' joins other IAI UAV systems in use with the IAF, and provides a crucial contribution to IAF operational capabilities. The 'Eitan' will act as the linchpin for the most complex missions the IAF will undertake. IAI UAVs are in service with dozens of nations the world over, and have acquired unprecedented amounts of operational experience.
The Heron was designed to perform long-range missions of over 1,000 km, and can remain airborne for over 24 consecutive hours. The UAV has a powerful turbo-prop engine (1200 horsepower), which allows it to reach altitudes of over 41,000 feet - higher than commercial aircraft normally fly.
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