Israeli Air Force’s New ORON ISR Aircraft Begins Test Flights
Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) has completed the system integration activities or the Israeli Air Force’s (IAF) Oron intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance aircraft. This achievement, which, according to the Israeli Defense Ministry, represents a key milestone in the aircraft’s development and testing program, was commemorated at a recent event attended by senior officials from the Directorate of Defense Research and Development (DDR&D).
With this development, the new aircraft, whose final delivery to the Israeli Air Force is one step closer, will now enter the joint test flight stage carried out by the Israeli Air Force and IAI. After this stage, Oron is anticipated to join the Israeli Air Force’s “Nachshon” 122nd fleet, which includes the Shavit SIGINT and Eitam airborne early warning and control aircraft, by the end of the year.
Making a statement on the subject, Lt. Col. Yoed, Head of the Ministry of Defense DDR&D Missionized Aircraft Branch, said, “ORON is a joint multi-domain, multi-sensor solution that will provide the IDF with game-changing capabilities to counter threats far and near.”
Lieutenant Colonel ‘A,’ the IAF’s 122nd Fleet Commander, stated, “This airborne system has unique capabilities that exemplify the combined strength of all the IDF’s various branches. The IAF’s elite 122nd Squadron fully recognizes the great responsibility of effectively utilizing this aircraft and its ability to protect the State of Israel. I am sure that the joint flights will allow the IDF to train its personnel effectively and shorten the schedule until the aircraft is fully operational.”
The Oron is a cutting-edge ISR aircraft developed in collaboration with the Israeli Ministry of Defense and IAI’s ELTA Group, as well as the Israeli Air Force, Intelligence Service, and Navy. Based on the Gulfstream G550 jet, a platform with high aviation performance and low maintenance costs, ORON is outfitted with advanced active electronically scanned array radar (AESA), electro-optical and signal intelligence (SIGINT) sensors, and advanced data processing systems manufactured by IAI subsidiary Elta Systems. With these systems, the aircraft aims to provide the Israel Defense Forces with advanced intelligence capability to monitor very large areas while monitoring ground forces’ movements in all weather and visibility conditions in real time.