On video: Documentation of the destruction of the terror tunnel that was established near a school in Gaza/Photo: IDF Spokesperson
The "Storm Clouds" array is considered one of the best kept secrets in the Air Force, until recently, even its name was classified.
During the Iron Swords War, it was first activated.
It is a flock-like array of unmanned aerial vehicles, with a variety of roles, designed to enable continuous intelligence surveillance over a space cell.
The project worth more than a billion shekels is shared by the Air Force and the Land Forces, and is operated by Squadron 144. The person who supported the project and gave it priority was the previous Chief of Staff - Aviv Kochavi. At
the center of the array is the Orbiter 4 produced by Aeronautics, it was introduced back in 2016, and is unique in its capabilities: despite Being relatively small, with a wingspan only 5.4 meters wide, it is able to stay in the air for a relatively long time, up to 25 hours according to the manufacturer's publications. On the other hand, its small dimensions make it difficult to detect and shoot down and help reduce its price. It is also able to simultaneously take two types of Sensors, camera and surface radar, maritime radar and other capabilities. In the Air Force he was given the nickname: the spark.
Its small dimensions make it difficult to detect and destroy and help to reduce its price.
As the Spark UAV, Orbiter 4/IDF Spokesman, IDF Spokesman
Air Force Commander Major General Tomer Bar affixes the HA insignia to the Shining UAV/IDF Spokesman, IDF Spokesman
The manufacturer of the Iron Dome - Rafael, purchased Aeronautics, not least because of the orbiter's unique capabilities.
But before the Aeronautics company was purchased, and before the Orbiter 4 was used in the "Storm Clouds" project, Azerbaijan purchased UAVs of this type and of the Orbiter 1 type after they were presented at a military exhibition in Baku. In
addition, the same sensitive and classified UAV was presented last week at a large security exhibition in Saudi Arabia , World Defense Show 2024, held in Riyadh.
The Saudis, who have always been one of the world's largest purchasers of weapons, are now trying to become arms manufacturers, and to develop cooperation with foreign countries and companies.
Azerbaijan is one of several countries that purchased the Orbiter 4, and also holds a license to manufacture it itself.
It is not clear whether presenting it at an exhibition in Saudi Arabia, with the intention of offering it to the Muslim country that is still defined in Israel as an enemy country, and to the countries in the Persian Gulf, meets the conditions of its production license.
The supervision of Israeli defense exports is the responsibility of the AP under the Ministry of Defense.
Orbiter 1 (top left) and Orbiter 4 (right) UAVs on display in Azerbaijan at the World Defense Show/Ministry of Defense Industries in Azerbaijan
According to foreign sources, Israel sold Air Defense Barak-8 and Spider air defense systems and Rafale to the United Arab Emirates.
Some of the Gulf states have purchased cyber and drone interception systems, but in recent years, there have been no overt deals for the sale of drones to the countries of the region.
"Israel has no real ability to control who purchases weapons for which it granted rights and manufacturing capabilities in foreign countries," said an Israeli defense expert on the subject. "The restrictions in the contract, which may require the approval of the Ministry of Defense for any such transaction, stand in the way of the desire to continue selling weapons to Azerbaijan, which presented many Israeli-made weapon systems in the parades it held, and only last year, according to foreign sources, purchased Barak-8 systems and spy satellites from the Aerospace Industry for billions of dollars Aeronautics
stated in response that "the event is not known to Aeronautics.
The company informed the Ministry of Defense on the matter.
Aeronautics operates in accordance with the conditions of the marketing and export licenses."
The Ministry of Defense refused to comment.
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Gaza war
War of Iron Swords
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Saudi Arabia
Azerbaijan