The Israeli air force is poised to receive its first Heron unmanned air vehicle systems acquired under a $50 million contract with Israel Aircraft Industries.
Dubbed Machatz 1, the Heron air vehicle can be configured to carry multiple sensors, including synthetic-aperture and maritime search radars and communications and electronic intelligence payloads.
ARIE EGOZI/TEL AVIV
Source: Flight International
Proposals from defence start-up Anduril and uncrewed aircraft pioneer General Atomics were selected from a pool of submissions by five aerospace manufacturers to develop autonomous fighter jets for the US Air Force’s Collaborative Combat Aircraft programme.
The manufacturer of uncrewed aerial vehicles is partnering with armaments producer Dillon Aero to adapt the DAP-6 gun pod for use on several General Atomics platforms.
Lockheed Martin is confident that it will be able to resume deliveries of its F-35 stealth fighter in the third quarter of this year, with the US Department of Defense to begin by taking updated aircraft in an interim “combat training-capable” standard.
