Heron TP in flight test crash

No injuries in crash of Heron TP near Tel Nof Air Force Base; IAF launches probe into crash of “UAV that can reach Iran.”

The Heron TP, Israel’s most advanced unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) crashed Sunday morning during a test flight near the Tel Nof Air Force Base in central Israel.

The Israeli Air Force says technical failure or human factor could have caused the incident.

The all-weather fully-automatic UAV was designed for strategic reconnaissance and carries a whole payload of sensors, optical and infrared cameras and is equipped for fire-control, also reportedly having assault capabilities. Thought to be the biggest UAV in the world, it is capable of reaching Iran.

With a wingspan of 26 meters, the IAI Eitan resembles a small airliner, though it weights only four tons. With a cruise speed of 300 kilometers per hour, it can stay in the air for up to 36 hours, and is able to cover a distance of 10,000 kilometers. Its payload is up to 1.8 tons.

Tel Nof airbase, or Air Force Base 8, is one of Israel’s three principal airbases. It was opened by the British as the UK’s main airbase on Palestinian territory, and used to be known as Ekron Airbase.

Globes reports that the crash was due to human error

“According to the preliminary investigation by the Israel Air Force (IAF) and Israel Aerospace Industries Ltd. (IAI) (TASE:ARSP.B1). The Heron’s ground controllers apparently exceeded the UAV’s test flight parameters. The top secret Heron TP, a state-of-the-art UAV costs $10 million, and is one of IAI’s flagship product”