Okay, I'm not the weapons or electronics kind of guy but this sounds awfully exciting for the IAF. In essence, we're looking at an AWACS that is the relative size to a business/executive jet. Let me just list what the newest addition, the "Eitam", to the IAF can do:
1. The Eitam can produce aerial pictures deep inside enemy territory, while warning attack formations of approaching threats.
2. It will enable the Israeli Air Force’s intelligence and electronic warfare arms to operate hundreds of kilometers inside enemy territory. Eitam can cover Syria, without leaving Israeli air space and target Iran from a great distance.
3. The Eitam can stay airborne for 10 hours at the relatively safe altitude of 40,000 feet
4. It is also designed to interface with Israel’s spy satellites, Dolphin submarines
1. The Eitam can produce aerial pictures deep inside enemy territory, while warning attack formations of approaching threats.
2. It will enable the Israeli Air Force’s intelligence and electronic warfare arms to operate hundreds of kilometers inside enemy territory. Eitam can cover Syria, without leaving Israeli air space and target Iran from a great distance.
3. The Eitam can stay airborne for 10 hours at the relatively safe altitude of 40,000 feet
4. It is also designed to interface with Israel’s spy satellites, Dolphin submarines
What it all means is greater surveillance by Israelis at a time when they absolutely need as much warning as possible of movements against them. When you are looking at serious threats from Iran, Syria, Hezbollah in Lebanon and Hamas/al Qaeda in Gaza, this type of first warning system is invaluable.
It is another piece of amazing technology developed by the Israelis. It's almost...let's see....what word can describe this kind of innovation....hmmm....Divine? : )
Here's the full story from DEBKA.
It is another piece of amazing technology developed by the Israelis. It's almost...let's see....what word can describe this kind of innovation....hmmm....Divine? : )
Here's the full story from DEBKA.
Israeli Air Force integrates home-made miniaturized, long-distance AWACS for long-distance surveillance and EW
DEBKAfile’s military sources report: The Israeli Air Force’s 122 Nachshon special missions squadron has taken delivery of the “Eitam” – a modified Gulfstream G-550 executive jet, fitted with the newest Israeli airborne early warning system (AEW & C) developed by Israel’s Elta Systems.
Crammed onto the new, extra-small Eitam platform is a long-range intelligence, target tracking and operational control system that can produce aerial pictures deep inside enemy territory, while warning attack formations of approaching threats.
Its electronic support measures (ESM) and communications equipment in support of AEW & C enable the Israeli Air Force’s intelligence and electronic warfare arms to operate hundreds of kilometers inside enemy territory. Eitam can cover Syria, without leaving Israeli air space and target Iran from a great distance.
The new craft can stay airborne for 10 hours at the relatively safe altitude of 40,000 feet. It also has an in-flight refueling capacity.
This third-generation system developed by Israel Air Industries/Elta Phalcom is the first to be fitted into such a small airframe. Eitam is therefore a smaller target than the conventional, large and expensive AWACs craft.
It is also designed to interface with Israel’s spy satellites, Dolphin submarines which, according to foreign sources, are capable of carrying nuclear cruise missiles, other Israeli early warning systems and the Israeli Defense Forces ground commands.
The three Eiatm craft delivered to the Nachshon squadron feature two radar systems operating simultaneously on different frequency bands and, mounted on their fuselage, phased array antennas that provide 360-degree coverage of wide spaces. It replaces the E-2C aircraft retired in the 1990s.
Israel has taken orders for this miniaturized airborne early warning system from India for its fleet of Ilyushin-76 aircraft and the Singapore Air Force.
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