Searcher Mk I Israeli Reconnaissance Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV)

Searcher, Searcher Mk I, Searcher I

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Searcher Mk I Israeli Reconnaissance Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) — Searcher_Mk_I_(B).jpgTRADOC ODIN WEG

Basic Information

Name

Searcher Mk I Israeli Reconnaissance Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV)

Designation

Searcher, Searcher Mk I, Searcher I

Alternate Designation

Searcher, Searcher Mk I, Searcher I

Equipment Type

—

Manufacturer

Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI)

Date of Introduction

1992

Description

The Searcher is a multi-mission tactical Unmanned Air System (UAS) used for surveillance, reconnaissance, target acquisition, artillery adjustment, and damage assessment and developed by IAI in the 1990s. It was designed to meet present and future requirements for Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) in support of the Israel Air Force as well as export customers. The air vehicle design provides excellent engine and aerodynamics performance and handling qualities while the ground control station was designed to provide compatibility with other UAV systems produced by Israel. So far the Searcher family includes the Mk I, Mk II and Mk III models. The Searcher looks almost identical to the Scout and Pioneer but is in fact scaled up and is well over twice the size of the Scout. The Searcher is powered by a 35 kW (47 hp) piston engine. The new design features updated avionics and sensor systems with greater flight endurance as well as increased redundancy for improved survivability. In addition to Israel, the system had been exported and is currently in use by Russia, India, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Singapore, Thailand, and Turkey

Air & Air Defense Specifications

Engine 1 X Limbach L550 Engine (47 hp)

Max Speed 200.0 km/h

Cruise Speed 111.0 km/h

Range 300.0 km

Endurance 24.00 hrs

Variants

Searcher Mk II The Mk II is the fourth in a line of UAVs that began development as the Scout (the Searcher was the third generation). The Searcher Mk II is slightly larger, measuring 19 ft 2 in (5.85 m) in height and 28 ft 1 in (8.55 m) in diameter; it has higher maximum takeoff weight and payload at 939 lb (426 kg) and 220 lb (100 kg), respectively. The main benefit of these updates is greater flight endurance at higher altitudes.

Searcher Mk III The most recent variant, the Mk III was launched in 2010 and has over twice the range of the Mk II with two more hours of endurance and a higher ceiling. It is equipped with a four-stroke silent engine, along with a maximum takeoff weight of 961 lb (436 kg) and higher maximum payload weights of 264 lb (120 kg). The Searcher Mk III has an aerial data relay capability for beyond line-of-sight operations. Two simultaneous automatic takeoff and landing systems improve safety.

Forpost This is the Russian designation for Searcher Mk II UAVs being produced domestically. According to the Urals Civil Aircraft Plant, which builds the systems, the Forpost has a flight endurance of 17.5 hours, maximum takeoff weight of 1,000 lb (454 kg) and a max payload of 130 lb (60 kg). The air vehicle has a top speed of 130 mi (210 kmh) and a ceiling of 11,800 ft (3,600 m).

System

Alternative Designation Searcher, Searcher Mk I, Searcher I

Type of UAV Unmanned Reconnaissance Drone

Manufacturer IAI

In Service 1992-Present

Primary Function Long Endurance Reconnaissance Drone

Day/Night Capable Yes

All Weather Capable Yes

Ground Crew 4 (external pilot, internal pilot, observer and commander)

Endurance 24 hours

Launch System Runway (Fully Automatic)

Recovery System Runway (Fully Automatic)

Number of Hard Points INA

Manned-Unmanned Teaming (MUM-T) Capable No

Automatic Landing and Takeoff Capability Yes, Automatic Takeoff and Landing (ATOL) systems

Electro-Optical and Infrared Sensors (EO/IR) Yes

Real-Time Imagery Yes

Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) Available and would replace the Electro-Optical and Infrared Sensors (EO/IR)

SAR/GMTI Capable INA

SIG/INT Capable Yes

EO/IR Capable Yes

Fuselage Composite

Gyro-Stabilized TV Camera Yes

Note #1 The Searcher Mk I is built from composite materials to reduce radar detection

Dimensions

Length 5.85 m

Width (Wing Span) 8.54 m

Height 1.25 m

Weight, Empty 350 kg

Weight, MTOE 500 kg

Automotive

Engine Name Limbach L550 Engine

Engine Type 1 X Limbach L550 Engine

Engine Power 47 hp

Endurance 24 hours

Propeller driving 2-blade pusher propeller

Fuel 130 liters

Maximum Speed 200 km/h

Dash Speed 185 km/h

Cruise Speed 111 km/h

Ceiling 6,100 m

Maximum Range 300 km

Payload 65 kg

Endurance 16 hours

Communications

Line of Sight Radio (UAV & Ground Crew) Direct Line-of-Sight (LOS) data link

Beyond Line of Sight Radio (UAV & Ground Crew) UAV airborne data relay for beyond LOS missions & Ground-based data relay for beyond LOS missions

Note In the event of communications via datalink are lost the air vehicle will return automatically to its base.

Protection

Stealth Properties No

Heat Signature Reduction INA

Add on Armor INA

EW Yes

EW Counter Measures / CCM No

Counter Measures (Chaffs/Flares) No

Image Sources

Notes https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IAI_Searcher; https://www.militaryfactory.com/aircraft/detail.php?aircraft_id=1064;

Details

Country of Origin Israel

Category UAVs

Air > UAVs

Classification

Domain

Air & Air Defense

Equipment Status

Active

Dimensions

Length

5.85 m

Width

8.54 m

Height

1.25 m

Weight

500 kg

Operators (13)

Russia

Israel

South Korea

India

Spain

Azerbaijan

Canada

Cyprus

Ecuador

Indonesia

Singapore

Sri Lanka

Thailand

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