MALE UAVs for India
The ‘Vigilant’ Heron
The fourth generation GPS-enabled IAI Heron/ Machatz- 1 Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) Unmanned Aerial System ( UAS), has entered operational service with the Indian Air Force. The Heron is capable of fully automated take- off and landing, even under adverse weather conditions, and flying at a height of 30,000 feet, the UAV provides its operators with real-time information on enemy battlefields/activities by performing Information, Surveillance, Target Acquisition and Reconnaissance (ISTAR) roles using multiple sensors and satellite communication (SATCOM) for extended- range capture and transfer of critical data. IAI’s Malat Division is to supply around 50 Heron MALE UAVs to the Indian Armed Forces although senior IAI officials decline to admit whether the consignment also includes the armed Heron TP/Eitan. [see news item]
Powered by a single 85 kW Rotax 914 turbocharged piston engine manufactured by Austria's BRP-Rotax, the Heron can climb at 150m per minute and fly at a maximum speed of 207km/h with a range of 350 km and has demonstrated 52 hours of continuous flight with a modular space of up to 250 kg for customer furnished equipment. These include Electro-Optical (EO) and Infra-Red (IR) sensors (supplied by Northrop Grumman and Tamam Division of IAI), thermal surveillance equipment and laser designator. While the EO sensor converts light rays into electronic signals for capturing images, real-time data and videos, the laser designator is applied for targeting the enemy on the battlefield. Thermal surveillance equipment is used to capture high-resolution images during night by penetrating through clouds, rain, smoke, fog and smog. Communications are established through a direct Line- of- Sight ( LoS) datalink, UAV airborne data relay for beyond LoS missions and ground-based data relay for communicating with the Ground Control Station (GCS). Additionally, Electronic Support Measures (ESM) helps the Heron in threat detection and examination of the area to determine signals emitted from the surrounding radars and other electromagnetic emitters.
For maritime roles, the Automatic Identification System (AIS) gathers details of ships such as vessel type, vessel name and destination. The Elta Maritime Patrol Radar (MPR) identifies vessels from very long distances by applying silhouette target acquisition procedures. MPR also provides Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) images, and near coastline detects ground vehicles using its Ground Moving Target Indicator (GMTI) mode.
The Heron can be controlled either manually from the GCS or operate
in autonomous mode. As mentioned earlier, it is fully equipped with automatic launch and recovery (ALR) system, which helps in automatic safe landing during communication failure with the GCS. The processing, retrieving and storing of the real-time data provided by Heron UAV is undertaken by the GCS to convert the sensor data such as live and stored images, imagery and spatial information, including EO, SAR, MTI maps, SIGINT and ESM, into actionable intelligence.
Super Heron is a refinement of the Heron UAV with a heavy fuel 200-horsepower engine that increases its rate of climb and performance. With a top speed of 280km/h the range extends to 250 km LoS and 1,000 km by satellite control, while endurance is 45 hours at a maximum altitude of 30,000 ft.
An enhanced variant, the Heron TP/ Heron 2/ Eitan developed under an Israel Ministry of Defence programme, can carry multiple payloads and perform multiple missions such as Communication Intelligence (COMINT), Signal Intelligence (SIGINT) and image intelligence (IMINT) and has entered service in Israeli Defence Forces (IDF).
Capable of Automatic Take- Off and Landing ( ATOL) Heron TP can fly at 45,000 feet with endurance of approximately 36 hours. Apart from long range, long endurance Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition and Reconnaissance ( ISTAR) missions, the Eitan is designed to execute a large variety of operational missions, having made its maiden flight on 15 July 2006. The new MALE UAS will provide the Israeli Air Force persistent, High altitude, Long Endurance (HALE) ISR capability well beyond the reach of enemy air defences, well beyond Israeli borders. The Heron TP is powered by a single 1,200 hp Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A turboprop engine, powering a four blade propeller. The use of such powerful turboprop engine enables the aircraft to climb and operate at altitude above 40,000 feet, avoiding any airspace conflict with commercial aircraft traffic. Using on board fuel and power resources, the Heron TP is able to sustain continuous missions for over 36 hours with full mission payload and is also equipped with de-icing systems protecting the aircraft when flying through icing conditions.
With maximum takeoff weight of 4,650 kg, the Eitan can carry over 1,000 kg of EO/ IR/ SAR/ MPR sensors in its forward main payload bay and the two bulges located at the end of each tail boom, offering optimal separation for specific systems. Other stores can be mounted along the wing, in internal and external positions. Eitan can also be fitted with wing hardpoints for external stores. The aircraft is equipped with multiple datalinks, supporting LoS and Beyond Line-of-Sight (BLoS) links via satellite communications. This giant drone maintains the twin tail boom principle offering stable and redundant design and large payload bay located around the aircraft centre of gravity, uninterrupted by the retractable landing gear. This configuration allows for quick and simple payload reconfiguration on the flight line.