Israel Aerospace Industries’ (IAI) unmanned aerial systems (UAS) have accumulated over one million operational flight hours worldwide – an unprecedented accomplishment. IAI presented its UAS and unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs) at the AUS&R 2013 Expo of Autonomous, Unmanned Systems & Robotics, held in Reshon Lezion, Israel.

Regarding the AUS&R Expo, Joseph Weiss, IAI’s President & CEO, said: “IAI has long been a leading pioneer in the field of unmanned aerial systems. With over 40 years of operational experience and 50 customers worldwide, I am proud to announce that IAI’s unmanned aerial systems have accumulated over one million flight hours.

“The Heron UAS has been the leading system in its class in the international markets for over a decade and has been sold to 20 customers worldwide. Heron has accumulated over 2,00,000 operational flight hours with extensive use in combat in Afghanistan and in other hot spots around the world.

“As a result of the lessons learned from the Heron’s exceptional history and extensive experience, we continue to refine and upgrade the Heron and our UAS’s design.”