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The Indian Air Force (IAF) has said that Israeli-made ‘Harop’ Unmanned Combat Air Vehicle (UCAV) will join the IAF by 2011 and it will enhance the war-fighting capabilities of the IAF. ‘Harop’ UCAV is Israel’s first unmanned aerial vehicle for offensive strikes. Developed by Malat division of the Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), the Harop UCAVs were bought by India recently through for an estimated $100 million deal for up to 10 drones.
The induction of these lethal killer drones will make the IAF capable to engage in both conventional and low-intensity conflict. IAF will be able to hit high value targets such as enemy missile, radar sites and terrorist hideouts. Senior IAF officials said that though the IAF has ‘Searcher’ and ‘Heron’ UAVs to perform surveillance and reconnaissance roles, the ‘Harop’ UCAV will provide IAF the capability to take down enemy positions without having to send its manned fighter aircraft to hit ground targets.
Usually launched from ground- or sea-based canisters, the “Harop” can be also be adapted for air-launch. The Harop is a vehicle launched, UAV controlled by a remote operator and capable of flying more than 1,000 kilometers and loitering for hours with a 51 pound warhead. Like the autonomous Harpy, the UAV is primarily geared toward the Suppression of Enemy Air Defense (SEAD) role. It features two modes of guidance to the target. One is homing-in on radio emissions with its anti-radar homing system, or unlike the Harpy, have its operator select static or moving targets with the drones electro-optical (TV) sensor. Using the operator mode, targets can be hit regardless of whether they emit signals or not. This line of sight capability can be used at ranges up to 150 kilometers or
longer using relays built into each weapon.
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