Israelis to sell border security drones to Mexico
Tuesday, February 17, 2009 E-Mail this story Free Headline Alerts
TEL AVIV Ñ An Israeli defense firm has been selected to supply unmanned aerial vehicles to Mexico.
Israel's Aeronautics Defense Systems won a $22 million contract to provide UAVs for security forces in Mexico. Executives said Aeronautics would deliver both UAVs and an aerostat to Mexican border security.
In a Feb. 16 statement, Aeronautics reported the sale of the Orbiter miniature UAV to the Mexican federal police. Orbiter, with an endurance of up to three hours, was designed for over-the-hill reconnaissance missions and urban warfare operations.
"The ISR [intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance] systems are designed to deliver high quality intelligence by day and by night to command and control stations equipped with digital maps, via real time data link communication," Aeronautics said.
The statement said the company, based in Yavne, Israel, has also sold the Skystar 300, an aerostat loaded with reconnaissance systems. Skystar consists of a helium balloon, dual sensor payload, control unit and the data link between the control unit and the balloon.
Executives said the systems have been tested with Israel's military. They said Aeronautics has been a major UAV supplier to the Israeli military and security forces.
"Similar ISR systems from Aeronautics are already operational with the Israeli police and armed forces and with additional customers worldwide," the company said.