Israeli eyes are smiling, particularly in IAF surveillance planes, where a recently installed observing system has updated the Shachaf aircraft’s ability to carry out surveillance.
According to a report in the internal IDF magazine, HaMachane, operators of the surveillance sea plane will be able to see farther without having to get as close to dangerous areas.
“For the plane, this is a huge step up in every way,” said an official in the IDF's engineering department, which has been working on a NIS 22 million project to update the planes.
Systems used for daily patrols were also updated, allowing for better communication with counterparts on land and sea.
Officials said the system, a new version of the Navy’s control and surveillance system that is also installed on the plane, holds more information and collects data mid-flight, allowing for better military coordination “at the moment of truth”, an Israeli expression meaning when there is a real battle on.
Nor was interior design neglected: “The crew’s ability to operate comfortably inside the plane directly affects the success of a mission,” observed IAF Capt. Ronen Cogen, a member of the Shachaf upgrade project. As a result, the comfort was improved for interior stations in the plane, he said, making it “more conducive for a working environment.”
The Shachaf planes are part of the Anakey HaMidbar (Desert Giants) squadron which operates out of the Nevatim air base, located in the Negev.