The Israeli UAV in Afghanistan

Spanish military concludes 500 missions with the IAI-produced Searcher 2 UAV, acquired by Spain in 2008.

The Spanish military has concluded more than 500 UAV missions as part of the multinational force in Afghanistan while using the Searcher-2 UAV produced by Israel Aerospace Industries. The UAVs are operated out of the base in Herat, Afghanistan.

Spain acquired the UAVs in 2008 and is operating six systems in Afghanistan. The Searcher-2 is an improved variant of the Searcher UAV, and it possesses wings with a slightly different shape, an engine with improved capabilities, a new navigation system and advanced communication systems.

The Searcher-2 can take off and land automatically, and is controlled from a ground station via line-of-sight radio communication or via airborne relay for ranges that exceed line-of-sight. The ground station is shared for all of the unmanned vehicles produced by IAI's Malat Division.

In the event that contact with the ground station is lost, the Searcher-2 can return to its base automatically. The UAV can be equipped with an electro-optic payload or a synthetic-aperture radar. According to foreign publications, the Searcher-2 is presently operated by the militaries and air forces of Ecuador, South Korea, India, Singapore, Thailand, Turkey and Spain.

Furthermore, according to foreign publications, Russia has also acquired a number of these UAVs in the framework of a larger UAV deal.