Aeronautics Defense Orbiter

Reconnaissance UAV

Orbiter

The Aeronautics Orbiter UAV in flight
Role  | Reconnaissance UAV

Type of aircraft

National origin | Israel
Manufacturer  | Aeronautics Defense Systems

The Orbiter Mini UAV System is an Israeli compact and lightweight unmanned aerial vehicle designed for use in military and security applications. It has been used in the Middle East since it was first developed. The system is used for 'Over The Hill' reconnaissance missions, Low Intensity Conflicts and Urban warfare operations as well as any close range ISTAR mission. It is manufactured by the Israeli company Aeronautics Defense Systems.[1]

Aeronautics announced in May 2015 the Orbiter 1K "Kingfisher" version with a fuselage adapted to carry a 2 kg (4.4 lb) explosive payload, turning it into a loitering munition. It can be controlled by an operator, or is capable of being given a waypoint and independently scanning the area to detect and destroy a stationary or moving target. If a target is not detected, the Orbiter 1K can return to base and land for reuse.[2] The Orbiter 1K can fly for 2–3 hours carrying an electro-optical/infrared sensor with a unique warhead that, due to its low acoustic signature, “is not detected until two seconds before it starts its kill dive”. Aeronautics announced the armed loitering UAV achieved operational status in August 2016.[3]

## Accidents and incidents

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According to news reports, an Orbiter Mini UAV, operated by the Mexican Federal Government, likely the Federal Police, malfunctioned on December 17, 2010. During a surveillance operation, it crossed the border into US airspace and crashed in El Paso, Texas.[4] No property was damaged, as the UAV apparently deployed a parachute during its descent. It was reported to and retrieved by U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

## Operational history

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The Orbiter 1k was employed by the Azerbaijani Armed Forces during the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.[5] In 2017, Israeli company Aeronautics Limited was hit with fraud charges and violation of Israel's export control laws. Israeli members of the company were found to have “demonstrated” their suicide drone with an actual strike on Armenians in the region.[6][7] Critics maintained that Israeli supplying regimes cheap drones like these were fueling the conflict in Armenia and Azerbaijan.[8][9]

## See also

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### Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

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* Orlan-10

## Operators

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* Azerbaijan \- Azerbaijani Land Forces \- Orbiter-3 - has a local plant for manufacturing[10]
* Croatia \- Croatian Army \- The latest variant Orbiter 3b - 6
* Finland \- Finnish Army \- two sets delivered - Orbiter-2B[11]
* Greece \- Hellenic Army \- "Large numbers" were procured in April 2023 for use with the SPIKE-NLOS systems[12]
* Indonesia \- Paskhas \- Orbiter-2B [13]
* Ireland \- Irish Army - Orbiter-2B[14]
* Israel \- Israeli Sea Corps[15]
* Mexico \- Mexican Federal Police[16][17] PEMEX \- Orbiter-2B[18]
* Peru \- Peruvian Army
* Poland \- Polish Land Forces and Polish Special Forces \- 11 sets delivered - Orbiter-2B[19]
* Serbia \- Serbian Army \- 10 sets
* Singapore \- Republic of Singapore Air Force \- Orbiter-4 [20]
* South Africa \- South African National Defence Force
* Spain \- Ministry of Defence \- Orbiter-3.[21]
* Thailand \- Royal Thai Navy
* Turkmenistan \- Orbiter 2B[22]
* United States \- Orbiter-4
* United Kingdom \- 3 on order[15]
* Ukraine \- Witnessed in the Ukrainian skies on November 17, 2022[15]
* Vietnam
* Vietnam People's Ground Force \- Orbiter 2 - Orbiter 3[23]
* Vietnam People's Navy \- Orbiter 2[24]

## References

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1. ^ "Aeronautics Ltd. | Aeronautics Defence Systems - Home Page". Aeronautics Ltd.
2. ^ Aeronautics' new Orbiter 1K Kingfisher MUAS to be unveiled at Paris Air Show 2015 \- Airrecognition.com, 28 May 2015
3. ^ Loitering Orbiter 1K on target for first delivery \- Flightglobal.com, 2 August 2016
4. ^ "Drone crash in El Paso under investigation". www.cnn.com.
5. ^ "Haut-Karabakh : Israël fournit bien des drones à l'Azerbaïdjan pour frapper des cibles arméniennes". France Info. 17 October 2020. Retrieved 2020-10-20.
6. ^ "Israel's suicide drone sales to China puts Tel Aviv in awkward bind with US | TRT World". www.trtworld.com. Retrieved 2022-07-06.
7. ^ Ravid, Barak (2020-09-30). "Azerbaijan using Israeli "kamikaze drones" in Nagorno-Karabakh clashes". Axios. Retrieved 2022-07-06.
8. ^ Roblin, Sébastien; Writer, Military (14 October 2020). "Cheap drones from China, Turkey and Israel are fueling conflicts like Armenia and Azerbaijan's". www.nbcnews.com. Retrieved 2022-07-06.
9. ^ Rubin, Michael (2020-11-29). "Israel's Azerbaijan Mistake". The National Interest. Retrieved 2022-07-06.
10. ^ "Orbiter 3 to be manufactured in Azerbaijan - iHLS Israel Homeland Security". iHLS Israel Homeland Security. 15 October 2014. Retrieved 12 April 2017.
11. ^ "Maavoimat > Joukko-osastot > Maavoimien Esikunta > Ajankohtaista "Maavoimat hankkii minilennokkeja"". Archived from the original on 2014-01-12. Retrieved 2012-04-26.
12. ^ Νικήτας, Γιάννης (2023-04-17). "Το ισραηλινό Orbiter 3 είναι το νέο UAV του Ελληνικού Στρατού". Defence Review (in Greek). Retrieved 2023-04-20.
13. ^ "Jenderal Andika Tak Sabar Lihat Kecanggihan Aksi Pesawat Tanpa Awak Buatan Israel Yang Dimiliki Paskhas". voi.id.
14. ^ Lavery, Don (1 August 2008). "Defence Forces to use Israeli robot spy planes". Irish Independent. Retrieved 19 May 2016.
15. ^ a b c "Israeli Sea Corps". Archived from the original on 2022-04-03. Retrieved 2010-09-02.
16. ^ "Mexico to receive Orbiter UAV from Israel : Defense news". Archived from the original on 2012-02-22. Retrieved 2012-09-04.
17. ^ "Mexico police buy Israeli air surveillance systems". Reuters. February 16, 2009 - via www.reuters.com.
18. ^ "Fuerzas Armadas comprarán drones". El Universal.
19. ^ "samolotypolskie.pl - Aeronautics Defense "Orbiter"". www.samolotypolskie.pl.
20. ^ "Singapore Acquires Orbiter 4 Under Close-Range UAS Program | Aviation Week Network". aviationweek.com. Retrieved 2022-03-03.
21. ^ Ing, David (10 October 2018). "Spain procures Aeronautics Orbiter UAVs". IHS Jane's 360. Madrid. Archived from the original on 11 October 2018. Retrieved 12 October 2018.
22. ^ Mitzer, Stijn (14 February 2022). "Turkmenistan's Path To Drone Power". Oryx Blog.
23. ^ thanhnien.vn (2015-03-05). "Pháo binh Việt Nam đặt mua loại UAV Orbiter 3 của Israel". thanhnien.vn (in Vietnamese). Retrieved 2025-02-18.
24. ^ Egozi2014-09-29T15:15:08+01:00, Arie. "Vietnam acquires unmanned Orbiter 2". Flight Global. Retrieved 2025-02-18.`{{cite web}}`: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)

## External links

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Media related to Aeronautics Orbiter at Wikimedia Commons