Israel unveils surveillance drone to reach Iran

The Israeli army says it has unveiled the world's largest unmanned surveillance drone which can fly for over 20 hours and reach Iran.

According to the army, the Israeli drone is physically larger than any other drone and can fly at higher altitudes.

"The Eitan can stay in the air for more than 20 hours; it can carry very large cargo and fly very far, much further than any other unmanned drone in Israel," said Air Force Lt. Col. A on Thursday.

"Only few aircraft in the world approach such capabilities," the Israeli officer went on to say.

The Israeli army further added that drone is also equipped with more advanced technological systems than its predecessors.

The drone was presented by the Israeli air force to local reporters at an army base in central Israel on Thursday.

The drone had already been tested on several occasions, including during Operation Cast Lead in the Gaza Strip.

According to Israeli military officials, a new Eitan squadron will be officially inaugurated next year.

The United States and Israel have repeatedly threatened to carry out a military strike against Iran's nuclear facilities.

Israel and its staunch ally, the United States, have been accusing the Islamic Republic of pursuing military applications under the guise of a civilian nuclear program, a claim vehemently rejected by Iran.

Iran, a signatory of the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and a member of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), is entitled to pursue the technology for civilian purposes. It has also called for the elimination of all nuclear weapons, as well as their development and production.

It is widely believed that Tel Aviv possesses of over 200 nuclear warheads, although it has never formally acknowledged such arsenal. It has refused to sign the NPT, and it is not a member of the IAEA. Middle Eastern nations consider Israel's nuclear arms to be a major threat against them.

Source: PressTV.
Link: http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=118980§ionid=351020202.