Military in Israel unveils a fleet of huge unmanned aircraft capable of reaching the Persian Gulf. The announcement comes as pressure mounts on Iran over it’s nuclear ambitions.
The new Israel Heron TP drones have a wingspan of 86 feet (26 meters), about the size of a Boeing 737 passenger jet. The Heron TP drones can remain in the air for over 20 consecutive hours at an altitude of 40,000 feet (12,000 meters). It’s size avails a large array of payloads.
Maj. Gen. Ido Nehushtan, commander of Israel’s air force stated the Heron TP drone “has the potential to be able to conduct new missions down the line as they become relevant”. Israel’s military did not disclose how large the drone fleet is.
This new drone gives an added element to Israel’s ability to both protect it’s border and direct its military power. Israel’s ballistic missile capabilities were proven early by the successful launch of a spy satellite. This places Israel, widely believed to have an “undeclared” nuclear arsenal, in the class of the world’s major military powers.
