A video surfaced on-line this week, posted by a person claiming to be a Lebanese resident, exhibiting an unidentified stealth drone flying off the coast of southern Lebanon.
The footage has stirred debate amongst protection analysts and consultants, with many speculating on the drone’s origins and capabilities. The UAV resembles Northrop Grumman’s RQ-180, which has been in U.S. Air Power service since round 2016, however with a particular physique that doesn’t match recognized photos of the RQ-180, suggesting it might be a distinct mannequin.
Some observers have urged that the drone could possibly be the elusive RA-01, a extremely labeled UAV purportedly developed by Israel. Particulars in regards to the RA-01 lately emerged following the leak of U.S. intelligence paperwork, which highlighted Israel’s covert drone operations over Iran.
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In response to the leaked paperwork, the Israeli Air Power (IAF) carried out a sequence of drone missions between October 15 and 16, utilizing stealthy, long-range UAVs to assemble intelligence on key targets. The paperwork, attributed to the U.S. Nationwide Geospatial-Intelligence Company (NGA), reveal that personnel and tools had been seen getting ready UAVs at Ramon Airbase in southern Israel for these missions.
Footage was posted yesterday by somebody claiming to be a Lebanese Resident, which seems to indicate an Unidentified Stealth Drone working off the Coast of Southern Lebanon. The Drone seems just like the Northrop Grumman RQ-180, which entered Lively Service with the U.S. Air… pic.twitter.com/5EaZDJrkBg
— OSINTdefender (@sentdefender) October 30, 2024
“The Israeli Air Power continued covert UAV operations from 15 by means of 16 October,” the paperwork state, with imagery evaluation suggesting Israel’s drones are able to conducting prolonged intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) missions over delicate areas, together with Iran. The paperwork recommend Israel has developed a sophisticated fleet of stealth drones, permitting it to observe high-risk areas discreetly.
Extra photos, reportedly of the drone’s wing section, appeared earlier, exhibiting a wingspan measuring round 16 meters.
These photos, captured on the port of Haifa, align with beforehand seen segments from as early as 2011, the place an analogous UAV part was noticed at a check facility in Palmdale, California.
This 16-meter wingspan dimension corresponds with hangars at Israel’s Ramon Airbase, suggesting compatibility with current Israeli drone infrastructure.