IAI Searcher explained

The IAI Searcher (also known by the Hebrew name מרומית Meyromit - "Marsh tern",[1] or officially in Israel as the חוגלה Hugla - "Alectoris") is a reconnaissance UAV developed in Israel in the 1980s. In the following decade, it replaced the IMI Mastiff and IAI Scout UAVs then in service with the Israeli Army.

Design

The Searcher looks almost identical to the Scout and Pioneer, but is in fact scaled up and is well over twice the size of the Scout. The Searcher is powered by a 35kW piston engine. The new design features updated avionics and sensor systems with greater flight endurance as well as increased redundancy for improved survivability. In addition to Israel, the system had been exported and is or was in use by Singapore[2] and Turkey,[3] as well as Thailand, Russia, India, South Korea, and Sri Lanka.

Operational deployment

More than 100 Searcher IIs are being operated by the Indian Air Force and the Indian Navy.

It took part in the large-scale Russian-Belarusian exercise Zapad in September 2021.[4]

On March 13, 2022, the Russian Ministry of Defence released video of the use of the updated Russian version in Ukraine.[5]

Crashes

10 June 2002 – Searcher Mark-II, operated by Indian Air Force for reconnaissance, was shot down by a Pakistan Air Force F-16B using AIM-9L Sidewinder at an altitude of 13,000 ft, after it was spotted by the mobile observation units.[6]

11 July 2018 – A Russian "Forpost" UAV was found on 12 July in a field close to the village of Barqah, about 12 kilometres from the Israeli side of the Golan Heights (Syria) but none of the belligerents claimed the shot-down nor the loss.[7] [8]

On 11 March 2022, a Russian "Forpost" UAV was shot down in Zhitomir Oblast.[9]

An Searcher II drone of the Indian Navy crashed during a routine training sortie at INS Garuda, Kochi about one mile short of the runway. No injuries or damage to property has been reported.[10] [11]

Operators

Specifications

Searcher II MK3

Forpost-R

The Forpost-R is the designation for the Russian developed UCAV based on the IAI Searcher. In 2008, Russia had approached Israel to import drones following the Russo-Georgian War, with Israel refusing to provide armed drones, an agreement was made to provide IAI Searchers MKII.[25] [26] [27]

According to a YouTube video and information published by the Russian Ministry of Defense on March 13, 2022, Russian armed forces have used an armed version of the Forpost-R Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) to destroy a multiple launch rocket system from the Ukrainian army from an altitude of 3,000 m using guided missiles.[28]

According to a video surfaced online and information published by the Russian Ministry of Defense on June 21, 2024, Russian armed forces used a strike version of the Forpost-R Unmanned Aerial Vehicle to destroy militants in Syria.

Armaments (Forpost-R)

References

This article contains material that originally came from the web article Unmanned Aerial Vehicles by Greg Goebel, which exists in the Public Domain.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Jane's Information Group . Janes.com . 2012-11-18 . https://web.archive.org/web/20090501204512/http://www.janes.com/extracts/extract/juav/juav1299.html . 2009-05-01 . live .
  2. Web site: Hermes 450 . Israeli-weapons.com . 2012-11-18 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110606180717/http://www.israeli-weapons.com/weapons/aircraft/uav/hermes_450/Hermes_450.html . 2011-06-06 . live .
  3. Web site: Israel to deliver two UAVs to Turkey in late November . www.todayszaman.com . 17 January 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20090608184550/http://www.todayszaman.com/tz-web/detaylar.do?load=detay&link=157438&bolum=100 . 8 June 2009 . dead.
  4. Web site: Strike drones, Terminator tank support vehicles assist in offensive at Zapad-2021 drill.
  5. Miko Vranic. (15 March 2022). "Ukraine conflict: Russia employs Forpost-R UCAV". Jane's website Retrieved 18 March 2022.
  6. Web site: Spy plane an evidence of Indo-Israeli collaboration: PAF . 11 June 2002 .
  7. Web site: A rebel fighter inspects what purportedly are the remains of a Syrian.
  8. Web site: A rebel fighter walks near what purportedly are the remains of A.
  9. Web site: В Житомирской области был сбит российский беспилотник "Форпост". ФОТО. Zhitomir Online. 11 March 2022. uk.
  10. Web site: Indian Navy's remotely piloted aircraft crashes in Kochi; no casualty . 2024-03-19 . The Economic Times.
  11. Web site: Dangwal . Ashish . 2024-03-19 . First 'Shot Down' By Pakistani F-16 Fighter, Indian Navy's 'Made In Israel' Searcher Drone Crashes In Kochi . 2024-03-19 . Latest Asian, Middle-East, EurAsian, Indian News . en-US.
  12. Web site: List of ammunition purchased by Azerbaijan made public . News.Az . 2012-03-27 . 2012-11-18 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120330062654/http://www.news.az/articles/politics/57003 . 2012-03-30 . live .
  13. Web site: UAVS AND UCAVS: DEVELOPMENTS IN THE EUROPEAN UNION – Appendix III, Table 1. 2013-01-01.
  14. Web site: Russian Force Practice Flying Forpost, Orlan-10 Drones In Tajikistan. www.defenseworld.net. 18 June 2015 . 2016-05-28. https://web.archive.org/web/20160805215429/http://www.defenseworld.net/news/13210/Russian_Force_Practice_Flying_Forpost__Orlan_10_Drones_In_Tajikistan#.V0mXqmh96Uk. 2016-08-05. live.
  15. Web site: Russian Navy to Use UAV for Cruise and Anti-ship Missile Targeting. 2018-08-21. https://web.archive.org/web/20180822050016/http://www.navyrecognition.com/index.php/news/defence-news/2018/august-2018-navy-naval-defense-news/6439-russian-navy-to-use-uav-for-cruise-and-anti-ship-missile-targeting.html. 2018-08-22. live.
  16. Web site: ЦАМТО / Новости / Олег Салюков в интервью "МК": в этом году соединения и воинские части СВ получат более 2500 новых основных образцов ВВСТ. www.armstrade.org. 2018-10-01. https://web.archive.org/web/20181001142421/http://www.armstrade.org/includes/periodics/news/2018/1001/122548950/detail.shtml. 2018-10-01. live.
  17. Web site: Russian naval aviation armed with drones (Part 1).
  18. Web site: ЦАМТО / Новости / Юрий Борисов: комплекс с БЛА "Форпост" с 2019 года будет производиться со 100-процентной локализацией. www.armstrade.org. 2017-12-27. https://web.archive.org/web/20171226231443/http://www.armstrade.org/includes/periodics/news/2017/1225/143544779/detail.shtml. 2017-12-26. live.
  19. Archived at Ghostarchive and the Wayback Machine: Web site: Russia's New Forpost-R Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) : First Flight - Novo Drone Russo Forpost-R . YouTube.
  20. Web site: Janes | Latest defence and security news.
  21. Web site: ЦАМТО / Новости / Сергей Шойгу: боевые возможности российской армии возросли на 13% в 2020 году.
  22. Web site: Russia's top brass signs a host of deals on advanced weapons delivery to Russian troops.
  23. https://x.com/SAMSyria0/status/1804896137947632045?t=F345Grg7rCFuXzg4YqhDxg&s=19 Russian army and Syrian Arab army use Forpost-R UCAVs for the first time in operations against ISIS terrorists in the desert.
  24. Web site: คณะเจ้าหน้าที่ของกองทัพเรือ เยี่ยมชมสาธิตการบิน UAV แบบ Searcher II ของกองทัพบก . Thaifighterclub.org . 2012-11-18 . 2021-02-27 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210227081245/https://www.thaifighterclub.org/webboard.php?action=detailQuestion&questionid=16554&topic=%A4%B3%D0%E0%A8%E9%D2%CB%B9%E9%D2%B7%D5%E8%A2%CD%A7%A1%CD%A7%B7%D1%BE%E0%C3%D7%CD%20%E0%C2%D5%E8%C2%C1%AA%C1%CA%D2%B8%D4%B5%A1%D2%C3%BA%D4%B9%20UAV%20%E1%BA%BA%20Searcher%20II%20%A2%CD%A7%A1%CD%A7%B7%D1%BE%BA%A1 . dead .
  25. Web site: UAV Forpost to Change Israeli Payload for Russian Systems.
  26. In 2012 a license was granted to Russia to produce the Searcher Mk II and light Bird Eye 400 domestically in Russia, with the designations changing to Forpost and Zastava respectively. Due to sanctions, in 2016 the licensing was revoked, and Israel stopped supplying parts. Russia continued its development domestically, under the name Forpost-R to produce an armed version capable of carrying armaments.
  27. Web site: Ukraine conflict: Russia employs Forpost-R UCAV . https://web.archive.org/web/20220315130942/https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/ukraine-conflict-russia-employs-forpost-r-ucav . 2022-03-15 . live.
  28. Web site: Russia uses Forpost-R armed drone with guided missile to destroy rocket launcher of Ukrainian army | Ukraine - Russia conflict war 2022 | analysis focus army defence military industry army .
  29. Web site: Russia uses Forpost-R armed drone with guided missile to destroy rocket launcher of Ukrainian army . https://web.archive.org/web/20220320192126/https://www.armyrecognition.com/ukraine_-_russia_invasion_conflict_war/russia_uses_forpost-r_armed_drone_with_guided_missile_to_destroy_rocket_launcher_of_ukrainian_army.amp.html . 2022-03-20 . live.

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