IAI ELI-3360

The IAI ELI‑3360, developed by Elta Systems of Israel Aerospace Industries, entered service in 1998 as a high‑altitude, long‑range surveillance platform. Conceived during the post‑Gulf‑War era to meet the growing demand for persistent intelligence, reconnaissance, and communications relay, the aircraft combined Elta’s expertise in electronic systems with a lightweight composite airframe. Its development traced a lineage from earlier experimental drones, culminating in a twin‑engine turboprop design capable of cruising at 40 000 feet for up to 30 hours without refuelling.

Key features include an all‑glass glass‑cockpit, a modular payload bay that can host synthetic‑aperture radar, electro‑optical/infrared sensors, and signal‑intelligence suites, and a secure datalink that streams real‑time imagery to ground stations. The ELI‑3360’s low infrared signature and advanced autonomous flight‑control system enable operations in contested airspace with minimal crew workload. Over 45 units have been exported to NATO allies and several Middle‑Eastern air forces, where they support border patrol, maritime surveillance, and disaster‑relief missions.

Its significance lies in pioneering a blend of civilian‑grade endurance with military‑grade sensor integration, setting a benchmark for next‑generation unmanned aerial systems and influencing the design philosophy of later platforms such as the Heron‑TP and the Hermes 900.