IAI Heron
Israel Aerospace Industries · Israel · first flew 1994 · reconnaissance aircraft
The IAI Heron is an Israeli medium-altitude long-endurance (MALE) unmanned aerial vehicle designed for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance missions.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, fuselage-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 8.5 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Twin fin |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- 0 (unmanned) — medium-altitude long-endurance UAV
- Twin-boom pusher configuration with rear-mounted engine
- High aspect-ratio straight wing for endurance
Unmistakable twin-boom pusher layout with a slender high-aspect-ratio wing; the rear-mounted piston engine and V-tail distinguish it from predator-class UAVs.
Specifications
- The IAI Heron has a length of 8.5 m (28 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 16.6 m (54 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 207 km/h (129 mph).
- Typical crew: 0 (unmanned).
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Developed by Israel Aerospace Industries, the Heron first flew in 1994 and has been exported widely, becoming one of the most operationally significant MALE UAVs of its generation. It has been used in numerous conflicts and border surveillance operations.
Variants
The family includes the baseline Heron 1, the larger Heron TP (Eitan) with turboprop power, and various sensor-configured sub-variants.
Where you'll see it
Operated by Israel, India, Canada, Turkey, Germany, Australia, and several other nations in active surveillance and combat support roles.
Related aircraft
- IAI Harpy
- IAI Panther
- IAI Searcher
- IAI Searcher II
- Elbit Systems Hermes 450
- General Atomics MQ-1 Predator
- AAI Aerosonde
- ASN-205
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