The special mission aircraft designed and developed in IAI is mainly used to collect strategic intelligence.
Israel Aerospace Industries has won a contract for a special mission aircraft worth US$350 million from a major European country. The contract will be executed by IAI’s ELTA Systems, a global leader in the field of special mission aircraft.
IAI has delivered special mission aircraft to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and many countries around the world, which are regarded as strategic assets. IAI is one of the few companies with these internal technical capabilities. Thanks to advanced sensor miniaturization technology and artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning software applications, IAI has made a major breakthrough in special mission aircraft, allowing high-performance business jets to be used as special mission aircraft. In the past, most special mission aircraft in the world were based on modified cargo or passenger aircraft.
Gideon Landa, ELTA Vice President and General Airborne Systems“As part of the IAI strategy, we are strengthening our business in Europe to leverage our business and expand cooperation. IAI’s special mission aircraft provide advanced and unique technical capabilities to meet the most demanding intelligence missions. Europe is In the strategic business area of IAI, we will continue to expand our products and services and use our unique technology to meet the ever-changing operational needs of our customers.”
IAI/ELTA offers four special mission aircraft series:
- AEW&C (Airborne Early Warning and Control) The aircraft uses AESA radar and IFF (identification, identification friend or foe), signal intelligence and communication systems to generate and disseminate air and maritime situation maps. It also contains air combat management and attack aircraft guidance systems. ELTA’s CAEW (Conformal Airborne Early Warning) aircraft is equipped with dual-band AESA radar, which provides complete 360° azimuth coverage, and is a leading example of similar systems based on business jets. IAI has signed a cooperation agreement with Airbus and Embraer to develop and sell other AEW&C aircraft models.
- AGS (Air-to-ground surveillance) The aircraft uses advanced AESA SAR/GMTI radar, signal intelligence and EO/IR sensors, and intelligence management systems to cover a large area, providing real-time detection, identification, and tracking of surface targets in all areas outside the defense zone And assign weather and visibility conditions. The leading product in this category is IAI MARS2, which includes the groundbreaking digital AESA SAR/GMTI radar and the latest generation of SIGINT integrated with the advanced Multi-INT system, carried by high-performance business jets.
- Marine protected area (Maritime Patrol Aircraft) Equipped with high-performance AESA radar, signal intelligence and EO/IR sensors, it can create the latest maritime images during search and rescue missions, maritime policing, environmental monitoring, anti-surface warfare (ASuW) and anti-submarine missions to support the Navy Operational War with the Coast Guard (ASW). ELTA’s MPA is based on business jets and turboprop aircraft platforms, equipped with the world’s leading ELM-2022 radar series that has been proven in combat, serving many countries on all continents.
- Signal Intelligence (Signal Intelligence) Aircraft monitor the electromagnetic spectrum to detect and accurately locate transmitter arrays and communication networks, creating a complete electromagnetic warfare order throughout the large-scale arena of interest. ELTA has developed and provided the most advanced signal intelligence aircraft for IDF on the business jet platform, and provided airborne signal intelligence systems for many special mission aircraft around the world.
