The IDF is developing a combined piloted and unpiloted operational concept to attack ballistic missiles.
“Aviation Week” reports in its latest issue that Israel will unveil a large armed unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) in six months. The UAV is reportedly the Heron 2, with a weight of 1.8 tons and a 37-meter wingspan, the same as a Boeing 737.
“Aviation Week” adds that the IDF is developing a combined piloted an unpiloted operational concept to attack ballistic missiles in both the boost phase intercept (BPI) and boost phase launcher intercept (BPLI) stages. The weekly quotes an Israel Air Force (IAF) source as saying, “Merging the two missions is the way we are going. Each platform brings manned and unmanned relevant advantage. Developing only one tool or one platform is the wrong approach.”
“Aviation Week” also quotes a senior US Air Force (USAF) source as saying that the IAF reflects a tendency to rely on piloted combat aircraft because it believes that it must be as forward as possible on the front line and as close as possible to the battlefield. Both the USAF and IAF give flight leaders the freedom of action at the point of contact, within some limits, to make decisions unseen, rather than from centralized air operations centers. The source said that, in contrast, remotely operated UAVs do not fit that proven tactical doctrine.
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes.co.il - on September 13, 2006
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