IAI beats Elbit in auction
IAI to supply Australia with UAVs worth USD 50 million
Aerospace industry beats Elbit Systems, will supply Australian army with UAV I-View 250, which provides information to field forces
The Israel Aerospace Industries won an auction to supply unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to the Australian Army. The IAI will participate in this project along with the Boeing Australia Company.
The total cost of the project is estimated to come to about 145 million Australian dollars, which is about USD 100 million.
The IAI's part in the project is estimated to amount to about AUD 70 million, which is close to USD 50 million.
The UAV which the Aerospace Industry will be supplying to Australian is called the I-View 250. This UAV provides real-time surveillance to on-field forces.
The I-View has a wingspan of 7.1 meters (about 23 ft), has a maximum take-off weight of 250kg (550 pounds), can reach an altitude of 20,000 ft and an endurance time of 6 – 8 hours.
'Australian army one of our most valued clients'
The IAI beat out another Israeli company in the auction – Elbit Systems, which had its own UAVs to offer: The Hermes 450 and the Hermes 180.The Australian Defense Ministry said that the IAI's offer was the cheapest and offered the highest abilities.
"We view the Australian army as one of our most respectable and valued clients," said IAI's President and CEO Itzhak Nissan.
David Witters, Boeing Australia's program manager said that the IAI has provided the Australian Army with new abilities that will place it at the top of the technological progress in the world.
