Israel Helps In French UAV Project

LONDON [MENL] -- Israel has been playing a major role in France's
unmanned aerial vehicle project.
The state-owned Israel Aerospace Industries has been developing a
medium-range, long-endurance UAV titled SIDM for the French military. The
project, the prime contractor of which is EADS, called for IAI to develop
and manufacture the unmanned platform.
SIDM has undergone validation trials by the French armaments directorate
DGA. EADS said the UAV successfully completed its flight acceptance
operations at a military base in France.
The UAV, equipped with optical sensors and radar, was designed for
battle reconnaissance and tracking operations. Executives said the platform
was based on IAI's Heron UAV, sold to the militaries of India, Israel and
Turkey.