Aeronautics Aerostar
Aeronautics Defense Systems · Israel · first flew 2003 · reconnaissance aircraft
The Aeronautics Aerostar is an Israeli medium-altitude long-endurance (MALE-class) tactical unmanned aerial vehicle developed by Aeronautics Defense Systems for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance missions. It uses a twin-boom pusher configuration for a clean forward sensor field of view.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | High-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 2 × piston, wing-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 4.1 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Twin fin |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Israeli tactical UAV with twin-boom tail
- Unmanned fixed-wing reconnaissance platform
- High-wing pusher-propeller layout
A high-wing twin-boom UAV with a pusher propeller at the rear of the central nacelle, twin vertical tails, and a bulged sensor chin; typical of Israeli tactical UAV design philosophy.
Specifications
- The Aeronautics Aerostar has a length of 4.1 m (13 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 8.1 m (27 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 200 km/h (124 mph).
- Typical crew: 0 (unmanned).
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Aeronautics Defense Systems, headquartered in Yavne, Israel, developed the Aerostar in the early 2000s as an exportable tactical UAV. It has been exported to several countries and has seen operational use in various conflict zones, valued for its endurance of over 12 hours and ability to carry electro-optical and SAR payloads.
Variants
Variants include the Aerostar and Dominator series; the basic Aerostar exists in several payload configurations including EO/IR, SAR, and communications relay. The larger Dominator II is a related but distinct design.
Where you'll see it
Operated by the Israel Defense Forces and exported to Azerbaijan, Ukraine, and other customers. The type has seen active operational use including in the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.
Related aircraft
- Aeronautics Defense Dominator
- Northrop Grumman GQM-163 Coyote
- Northrop Grumman X-47A Pegasus
- Schiebel Camcopter S-100
- Selex ES Falco
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