Tel Aviv: As a result of the war in Ukraine, the new advanced special mission aircraft designed by Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) is creating great interest in some foreign air forces. The Israeli air force (IAF) will soon achieve full operational capability of this aircraft.
The new aircraft dubbed “Oron” will be the most advanced in its category and enable the Israeli air force (IAF) to get a very detailed picture on a vast area to generate targets.
IAI is marketing the special mission aircraft under the name MARS 2. The platform is a G-550 business aircraft manufactured by Gulfstream. ELTA, the electronics subsidiary of IAI is equipping the aircraft with special sensors that according to the company will be capable of supplying a very detailed picture of vast areas of land and sea.
A company sources said that the new aircraft will perform missions similar to the JSTARS aircraft of the US air force, but with increased qualities. No other country in the world will have these capabilities produced by sensors carried by a business jet.
The source added that the four antennas of the AESA radar – two on the sides of the aircraft, one on its nose and one on its tail, will cover 360 degrees. He pointed out that some of the sensors were developed specifically for this aircraft.
The AESA radar is capable of covering “thousands of square kilometres” with high resolution, according to the source.
IAI says that the aircraft will be capable of performing all its missions from standoff ranges and from high altitudes. The resolution will not decrease because of the range and altitude and will enable excellent terrain dominance, claims the company.
The company source revealed that most of the data processing will be performed on board, so that only the relevant data is transferred to the fighting units. “This will enable the fighting units to hit time critical targets,” added the source.
The aircraft will have a 6-8 crew that will operate the different sensors. According to IAI, the new special mission aircraft will be capable of producing thousands of targets in the monitored area.
The ORON is the latest addition to the IAF’s 122 squadron operating AEW&C special mission aircraft, all based on the G-550.
-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
