Tel Aviv: The Israeli Air Force (IAF) is operating advanced types of UAVs in the Iranian airspace since the war broke out on February 28. The Israeli and American air forces are using fighter aircraft and bombers to hit nuclear sites and ballistic missiles production installations. The armed UAVs are performing accurate strikes on “selected targets”.
Israeli armed UAVs are actively operating in Iranian airspace as part of ongoing military operations like “Roaring Lion,” targeting missile launchers, air defences, and related infrastructure amid heightened Israel-Iran tensions in early March 2026.
Israeli forces deploy persistent drone fleets for real-time surveillance, target identification, and precision strikes over areas like Tehran and western Iran.
A leading UAV in this operation is the Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) Heron TP. This heavy UAV variant, spotted in operations over regions like Tabriz, has been supporting maritime and strategic armed missions with long-range capabilities. The Elbit Hermes-900 is also very active in the Iranian airspace armed with special payloads and weapon systems. These UAVs loiter for hours, enabling non-stop hunts after IAF jets establish air superiority by neutralising Iranian SAMs. They update target banks in real-time, striking facilities in Tehran and Isfahan as part of “continuous powerful strikes.
Sources said that in the current operation in the Iranian airspace, Israel is using at least one advanced, highly classified UAV designed for what is dubbed ” Special Missions”. Israel is a leading force in the development of UAVs and in recent years the industries has continuously worked to satisfy the IAF’s new operational needs.
-The writer is an Israel-based freelance journalist. The views expressed are of the writer and do not necessarily reflect the views of Raksha Anirveda
