L3Harris, Israel Aerospace Industries to develop low-cost surveillance aircraft for Israeli military

U.S. defense contractor L3Harris Technologies and Israel Aerospace Industries have signed an agreement to integrate L3Harris’ light-attack reconnaissance aircraft into the Israeli military’s Light-Attack Aircraft program.

The two companies announced a memorandum of understanding on Wednesday establishing a joint team tasked with integrating IAI’s Israeli-specific mission software into L3Harris’s Sky Warden platform. The new configuration will be known as the “Blue Sky Warden” and will be designed to meet the unique mission requirements of the Israeli military.

“By combining IAI’s cutting-edge systems and expertise in mission systems integration with L3Harris’ Sky Warden platform, we are delivering a tailored solution that meets the evolving needs of the Ministry of Defense and Israeli Air Force,”  Boaz Levy, president and CEO of Israel Aerospace, said in a statement.

Israel Aerospace will also oversee a series of flight and airworthiness tests during development with the Israeli Ministry of Defense and the Israeli Air Force.

If selected for production, the Blue Sky Warden could provide the Israeli military with a low-cost option for precision strikes and reliable surveillance. The L3Harris Sky Warden is already in use by the U.S. Special Operations Command for close air support and reconnaissance missions. The aircraft was specifically selected for its ability to take off on unpaved or rough runways.

The modified Sky Warden could also be an ideal addition to Israel’s current fleet of advanced counterinsurgency aircraft, such as the F-35I Adir.

“This strategic partnership with IAI allows us to provide a tailored variant of our Sky Warden to meet Israel’s operational and industrial needs,” said Jon Rambeau, president of Integrated Mission Systems at L3Harris. “The Sky Warden light-attack aircraft delivers the best-in-class endurance, payload and survivability needed for airborne ISR [intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance] and other missions.”