Israel Aircraft Industries' Malat plant has won a Finnish Defense Ministry tender for the procurement of $20 million worth of medium-range UAVs (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle).
IAI will supply Finland with Ranger UAVs, of the type already being sold to the US Navy and the Swiss Army. The deal also includes an option for the supply of two additional systems, each of which is made up of several aircraft and reception stations.
The Swiss Army has bought three such UAVs through an Israeli-Swiss consortium led by Malat and Swiss company Oerlikon-Contraves.
The UAVs to be supplied to Finland will be adapted for operation in conditions of extreme cold. Special attention was given to the survival capability of the UAVs, which are constructed of composite materials. They will be equipped with parachutes enabling them to land in case of malfunction.
The Ranger is capable of providing daytime and nighttime intelligence data from enemy territory. It is launched from a truck-mounted catapult, and has skids for automatic landing on snow and ice surfaces. Its flight range is 150 kms, and it has five-hour endurance.
The system to be supplied to Finland will be made up of six aircraft, a catapult, a command station, a communications station, and ground maintenance facilities. The systems will be fitted with television cameras and infrared cameras developed by IAI's Tamam plant.
Published by Israel's Business Arena September 29, 1999