A $4.2 billion procurement was cancelled, due to breakdowns. The Hunter is also used for target acquisition.
Sources inform “Globes” that the Israel Aircraft Industries (IAI) Hunter Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) has succeeded as an anti-tank platform, after the US earlier cancelled procurement of the Hunter, due to breakdowns and crashes.
The Hunter was an operational success in the recent US campaign in Iraq, following earlier successes in US military operations in recent years.
The US originally planned to buy 52 Hunter systems from IAI, each consisting of eight UAVs and a ground receiving station, for $4.2 billion. In the end, the US bought only seven systems for $400 million, after 17 crashes and severe accidents.
IAI corporate VP and general manager Military Aircraft Group Menahem Shmul confirmed to "Globes" that the Hunter was about to undertake new missions in the US. "The Americans decided that this UAV could be used for ground attack missions. Following consultations with us, we made changes to the Hunter's body to carry the new weapons."
Published by Globes [online] - www.globes.co.il - on August 19, 2003