http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2010/02/22/MNBH1C52E5.DTL
Israel introduces drones that could reach Iran Tia Goldenberg, Associated Press Monday, February 22, 2010 (02-22) 04:00 PST Tel Nof Air Force Base, Israel -- Israel's air force on Sunday introduced a fleet of huge pilotless planes that can remain in the air for a full day and could fly as far as the Persian Gulf, putting rival Iran within its range. The Heron TP drones have a wingspan of 86 feet, making them the size of Boeing 737 passenger jets and the largest unmanned aircraft in Israel's military. The planes can fly at least 20 consecutive hours and are primarily used for surveillance and carrying diverse payloads. At the fleet's inauguration ceremony at a sprawling air base in central Israel, the drone dwarfed an F-15 fighter jet parked beside it. The unmanned plane resembles its predecessor, the Heron, but can fly higher, reaching an altitude of more than 40,000 feet, and remain in the air longer. "With the inauguration of the Heron TP, we are realizing the air force's dream," said Brig. Gen. Amikam Norkin, commander of the base that will operate the drones. Israel's military refused to say how large the new fleet is or whether the planes were designed for use against Iran, but stressed it was versatile and could adapt to new missions. Israel considers Iran a strategic threat because of its nuclear program, long-range missiles and repeated references by its leaders to the Jewish state's destruction. In past conflicts, various types and sizes of unmanned planes have been used in missions like long-range surveillance and attacking enemy targets with guided missiles where anti-aircraft systems are rudimentary, like Iraq and Afghanistan. They have proved much less successful in conflicts where the opponents possessed better anti-aircraft weapons. During NATO's aerial onslaught against Serbia in 1999, for example, Serbian forces quickly shot down 42 U.S. drones, drastically reducing the effectiveness of the bombing campaign. Israel's military was the first to make widespread use of drones in its 1982 invasion of Lebanon, according to Mark Daly, an expert on unmanned aircraft at Jane's defense publications in London. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
