IAI Bird-Eye
| Industry | Aerospace, Defense |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2003 |
| Headquarters | Israel |
| Products | IAI Bird-Eye miniature unmanned aerial vehicles |
| Parent | Israel Aerospace Industries |
IAI Bird-Eye represents a series of miniature unmanned aerial vehicles developed by the Malat division of Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI). These UAVs are engineered primarily to support military and paramilitary operations involving intelligence gathering, surveillance, and reconnaissance tasks.
Production and delivery
The inception of the IAI Bird-Eye project dates back to 2003, initiated to participate in an Israeli mini-UAV procurement competition. The demand for such drones emerged during the Second Intifada, as the IDF required aerial platforms for intelligence collection over Gaza and the West Bank. During a 2004 competitive demonstration involving IAI, Elbit Systems, and Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, the IDF eventually chose the Elbit Skylark. Following this decision, IAI redirected its efforts toward international clientele.
In March 2009, Israel and Russia finalized an agreement to deliver IAI Bird-Eye 400 reconnaissance UAVs aimed at enhancing Russia’s unmanned aerial capabilities after their underperformance in the Russo-Georgian War. This transaction was notable as Russia's initial public acquisition of Israeli defense technology. By late 2009, negotiations were underway for a second order approximately twice the size of the first $50 million contract. In October 2010, IAI disclosed a $400 million arrangement to supply UAV components to Russia’s Oboronprom for domestic assembly.
February 2015 saw IAI enter a collaboration with India's Alpha Design Technologies to locally manufacture and market Bird-Eye 400 and 650 mini-UAS platforms in India, with local production and subsystem integration conducted under IAI’s supervision.
By June 2016, serial manufacturing commenced for the Bird Eye 650D Small Tactical Unmanned Aerial System (STUAS), which offers autonomous operational capabilities including vertical takeoff and landing. It boasts a range of up to 150 km and endurance reaching 15 hours. IAI emphasized its suitability for commercial sectors such as cartography, infrastructure inspection (including oil, gas, and electrical networks), water resource management, environmental monitoring, and disaster response.
In January 2019, a contract was signed between IAI and Brazilian firm Santos Lab to provide BirdEye 650D UAVs tailored for extensive precision agriculture applications targeting crops like soybeans and sugar cane alongside commercial forestry operations.
In September 2020, IAI acquired half ownership of BlueBird Aero Systems, an Israeli manufacturer specializing in small tactical UAVs. This acquisition integrated BlueBird’s tactical UAV portfolio with IAI’s offerings. Subsequently, in June 2021, BlueBird supplied 100 UAV units to a European client under this expanded product range.
Variants
| Model | Takeoff Weight | Payload Capacity | Wingspan | Length | Flight Duration | Operational Range |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bird-Eye 100 | 1.3 kg | 85 cm | 80 cm | 1 hour | 5 km | |
| Bird-Eye 400 | 4.1 kg | 1.2 kg | 2.2m | 0.8m | 80 minutes | 15 km |
| Bird-Eye 500 | 5 kg | 0.9 kg | 2m | 1.5m | 1 hour | 10 km |
| Bird-Eye 600 | 8.5 kg | 1.5 kg | 2 hours | 10 km | ||
| Bird-Eye 650 | 11 kg | 1.2 kg | 3m | Over 4 hours | 20 km | |
| Bird-Eye 650D | 30 kg | 5.5 kg | 4m | 15 hours | 150 km |