The Israeli Air Force (IAF) and the Israel Aerospace Industries unveiled the “MARS2 ELI-3150,” their new $1 billion spy stealth jet, at the Air Show in Paris, just a few months before its operational debut.
The IAF’s latest mission aircraft, codenamed “Oron,” is currently in its final stages of implementation within the Nahshon Squadron at the Nevatim Airbase. It will join the existing Haitam and Shavit mission aircraft.
The procurement of the new aircraft, including advanced planes from the American manufacturer Gulfstream and specialized equipment developed, installed, and maintained by the aerospace industry, is estimated to cost billions of dollars.
The primary purpose of the new aircraft is to carry out strategic intelligence-gathering missions, utilizing advanced cameras, extensive sensors, listening capabilities, and innovative AI technologies and algorithms. These features enable the processing of vast amounts of data within minutes, facilitating the generation of accurate and up-to-date intelligence reports that can be rapidly transmitted from the aircraft to ground-based intelligence officers.
According to the aerospace industry, which also produces strategic UAVs, the main advantage of the new manned aircraft lies in its ability to gather information through hundreds of onboard sensors, resulting in intelligence outputs that are more than ten times greater than those of strategic UAVs.
Consequently, command centers and military leaders receive real-time intelligence products directly from the onboard officers. Operating at altitudes of 40,000 to 50,000 feet, the Oron, similar to previous models, can reach these heights within 25 minutes. It boasts a flight range of over 1,000 kilometers, making it suitable for sensitive missions against countries in the third circle, including Iran.
The detection and surveillance systems installed on the Oron have been significantly enhanced, improving its capabilities to identify and classify various intelligence details both at sea and on land. Developed over the course of a decade, the Oron possesses robust transmission and distribution capabilities, which are safeguarded over vast distances of hundreds of kilometers.
While the aircraft can detect both mobile and stationary objects, it differs from its predecessors in that it does not possess full air superiority capabilities, as requirements have evolved. However, it will serve as a platform for high-ranking commanders, allowing them to manage large-scale operations “from the field.” Approximately one-third of the aircraft’s weight will be dedicated to accommodating dozens of computers. Moreover, the Oron will feature eight stations for intelligence officers and utilize large-scale sensors produced by Elta, a subsidiary of the aerospace industry.
{Matzav.com Israel }
When a visitor to the Paris Air Show told one of the exhibitors of the spy plane how much he loved the plane, the exhibitor told him: “And you can’t get over the plane’s advanced AI technolgy, right?”
“Right!” the visitor replied. “That’s exactly what I told my friend just minutes ago! How did you know that?!”
“Well,” the exhibitor replied, “this spy plane is equipped with some of the most advanced listening devices out there. I heard every word you said.”
Curious why Israel would showcase its most secret air superiority features! Doesn’t that harm its secretive intelligence superiority?