Elbit Systems Ltd will produce and provide the Artillery Corps of the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) with the Skylark 1Transitional Vertical Take-Off and Landing Small Tactical Unmanned Aerial Systems (Skylark 1 eVTOL), combined with through-life maintenance services for all the IDF Ground Force’s STUAS systems (Skylark 1 & Skylark 3).
Weighing up to 20kg, the new Skylark 1 eVTOL is a man-packed or vehicle-based platform offering the endurance and range of a fixed-wing STUAS with the capability to hover, take-off and land vertically. Combined with onboard analytical capabilities, the Skylark 1 eVTOL significantly expands the operations of tactical forces and enables fast deployment in order to organically perform Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition and Reconnaissance (ISTAR) missions. Under the contract, Elbit Systems will replace the Skylark 1 with the new system that will be integrated with the currently operational fleet used by the IDF Ground forces.
STUAS from the Skylark family are in operational use in a dozens of countries around the globe. The Skylark family of UAS have been in operational service with the IDF since 2008. The newest member of the family, the Skylark I eVTOL, can weigh up to 20kg and is equipped with an electric motor and a VTOL kit for takeoff and landing.
This new STUAS is ideal for dismounted, vehicle, man-packed or ship-based operation, designed to provide an organic airborne ISTAR capability for lower tactical echelons. It supports various applications including beyond the hill intelligence, target acquisition, force and convoy protection, border patrol, security operations, search & rescue (SAR) missions, environmental monitoring and counter-terrorism.
Based on years of accumulated operational experience, the Skylark 1 eVTOL system is easy to operate (runway independent) and has a minimal logistic footprint. Its unique combination of features make it a force multiplier that provides combatant units with extensive, effective & efficient ISTAR capabilities.
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they were caught spying on us a while back. Should have nought to do with em. Something else that we should be manufacturing ourselves
The spying claim has zero substance and seems to have originated with Army to cover up their total mismanagement of LAND 200. Another huge waste of taxpayer money – in that case about $1.5 billion down the drain.
lol. I, in that position, would have chosen a better way to slither out of it than charge someone with spying. There is a claim by the Israels that it is a defence mistake and cover up, a claim
So I suppose it’s a matter of conflicting statements
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-05-07/israeli-company-elbit-systems-of-australia-removed-army/100121238
At the time, I also wrote of rumors of security concerns, but they turned out to be fabricated. Under questioning in Senate Estimates a variety of Defence people said they had no security concerns. Without getting overly technical, Defence held up security certification of a particular software release – but never explained why and refused to engage seriously with Elbit. In the meantime, the company spent many millions of dollars of their own money to better align themselves with Defence processes – and after doing all of that were shafted anyway.