TEL AVIV, Feb 2 (Reuters) – Israeli armed drones use gravity bombs that produce no noise or smoke as they fall, making them hard for enemies to anticipate or evade, and the largest model of the aircraft can carry up to a tonne of munitions, its military says.

After more than two decades of secrecy, Israel in July went public about its pioneering armed drones developed as part of an array of stand-off surveillance and striking options since it was blindsided by tank incursions during a 1973 war.

In November, an Israeli general detailed the two corps – air force and artillery – that operate the drones, both against Palestinian foes close to home and possibly targets as far away as Iran or Sudan.

Such drones are remote-piloted, relaying video or dropping bombs before returning to base. They are distinct from the kamikaze drones that Iran said were used in a weekend attack on a defence plant in Isfahan, an incident on which Israel has declined to comment.

The heaviest drone that the IDF (Israel Defence Forces) has, which can carry munitions, with an effective payload of around a tonne.

Israeli manufacturers do not publicise the armed capabilities of the drones, under what industry sources have described as a Defence Ministry secrecy policy.

Reuters
Photo Rob Vogelaar