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IAF: UAV Sorties on the rise

Jan 22, 2015

This post is also available in: עברית (Hebrew)

A marked rise in the number of reconnaissance sorties performed by the Israeli Air Force’s (IAF) unmanned systems (UAS) and unmanned vehicles (UAVs), as well as manned aircraft, such as combat fighter and other systems.

In the course of 2014, there was a double-digit rise in the number of sorties performed by the IAF. Some 40% of all sorties were carried out by various models of UAVs. About half of all sorties were performed by Israeli fighter jets.

The Palmahim Air Force Base, which is Israel’s primary UAS base, played host to a unique gathering attended by the IAF’s reconnaissance squadrons. These comprise of F-16s, F-15As, Hermes 450, Heron, and Beachcraft B-200. The participants showcased their respective units’ capabilities and aerial footage and videos, protocols and development trends.

During the meeting, it was disclosed that the number of reconnaissance sorties increase multi-fold last year compared with 2014. The primary reason was of course “Operation Protective Edge”, during which thousands of sorties were carried out.

The goal of these sorties: to view designated targets as well as capture targets that had been attacked and analyze the outcome. This is part of the effort of gathering intelligence in order to better understand terrorist activities in the Gaza Strip.

Most of the reconnaissance missions are carried out using dedicated payloads. These are pods installed on board the various aircraft, manned and unmanned alike. The pods produce footage and other reconnaissance products of the targets and the surrounding area. This intelligence is then forward to intelligence personnel in the IAF and in the Intelligence Corps. They, in turn, use the raw material to produce intelligence. Various UAS come complete with integrated day and night cameras capable of producing footage and video at very high resolutions, which is relayed to ground stations.

During “Operation Protective Edge”, the IAF was already using new capabilities such as rapid deciphering of the above mentioned intelligence and reconnaissance products. There are currently new technologies in the works, designed to further improve the range and the quality of these products.

UAVs account for an ever increasing share of reconnaissance sorties, thanks to the advantages they feature in terms of long endurance, replacing manned missions (thereby saving on human lives) and so on.