IAI Searcher II
Israel Aerospace Industries · Israel · first flew 1998 · reconnaissance aircraft
The IAI Searcher II is an Israeli medium-altitude tactical unmanned aerial vehicle optimised for battlefield surveillance and target acquisition, developed as an improved successor to the original Searcher.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | High-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 5.85 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Twin fin |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Twin-boom pusher layout with high straight wing
- Bulbous nose pod housing electro-optical/IR sensor ball
- Inverted-V or flat twin tail connecting the two booms
Twin-boom pusher configuration is the primary identifier, with a high, unswept wing spanning about 8.5 m and a single piston engine driving a pusher propeller at the rear of the central nacelle. The nose carries a prominent stabilised sensor turret. Twin tail fins connect the booms with a horizontal stabiliser; no conventional fuselage tail section is present.
Specifications
- The IAI Searcher II has a length of 5.85 m (19 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 8.55 m (28 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 200 km/h (124 mph).
- Typical crew: 0 (UAV).
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Israel Aerospace Industries evolved the Searcher line through the 1990s, introducing the Searcher II with a larger airframe, improved avionics and a longer endurance than its predecessor. The type entered Israeli Defence Force service and was exported widely across Asia, Europe and South America. India licence-produced it as the Searcher Mk II under a DRDO/IAI agreement, operating it extensively from the late 1990s. Combat experience over Lebanon and Gaza refined its sensor integration and datalink architecture.
Variants
Searcher I (original 1992 baseline); Searcher II (enlarged, improved, 1998); Searcher IIJ (Japanese-configured export variant for JGSDF evaluation).
Where you'll see it
Operated by the Israel Defense Forces, Indian Army and Air Force (as Searcher Mk II), Singapore Armed Forces, and several other export customers. India's Searcher Mk IIs saw operational use in the Kargil conflict (1999) for real-time reconnaissance. The type remained in frontline service with multiple operators well into the 2010s.
Related aircraft
- IAI Harpy
- IAI Heron
- IAI I-View
- IAI Panther
- AeroVironment Centurion
- Bell Eagle Eye
- Boeing X-40A
- Northrop Grumman RQ-4 Global Hawk
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