Israel’s Meteor Aerospace Developing New MALE UAV

Israel’s Meteor Aerospace has started full-scale development of a new medium-altitude, long-endurance (MALE) UAV.

The UAV, known as Impat 1300 will offer a take-off weight of 1300 kg at an operating ceiling of 30,000ft and an operational endurance of 30 hours, Jewish press reported Friday.

The UAV will have two spacious, easily accessible payload bays, the forward one for electro-optical/infrared payloads, the rear for heavier equipment. Its developmental design will be cost-effective and flexible, capable of operating with a wide range of sensors. It has scheduled the new UAV’s flight testing for some time in 2019, the company has said in a statement.

Avionics, flight control and ground control systems will be based on Meteor’s existing Impact 700 UAV, which is capable of carrying 730 kg and is already in production. The new UAV will feature automatic takeoff and landing. Integrating large and heavy payloads and satellite communications equipment will be offered at a later date.

Meteor Aerospace President Itzhak Nissan said, “We did not establish Meteor to do more of the same. We are working to bring to market new designs with exceptional capabilities.”