Mysterious stealth aircraft over Israel

[yeetmahboi]

Unique. I'd go with the propeller driven Shahed 191.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1935353792092082493

View: https://x.com/John_A_Ridge/status/1935353792092082493?t=smxyPn4njMvHreS-hFXaEg&s=19


Unlikely enough the flash pattern reminded me first the discussion on the operational technique of the Zeus 8in anti-air shell.

 

[Dilandu]

My bet is on RQ-180, though.

 

[DWG]

My bet is on RQ-180, though.

Not sure there's any reason for an RQ-180 to be over Golan. Tehran yes, Golan no.

OTOH, why would an Iranian drone over Israel be flashing anti-collision lights.

 

[SOC]

Maybe this is the Israeli thing operating out of Ramon.

 

[Dynoman]

Possibly Fik (Pik) Airfield (LLFK). The field is used by Elbit Systems to test unmanned aerial vehicles. The flight path of the drones take it immediately over the settlement of Eliad. The airfield is not in use by anyone else but Elbit it appears.
Video taken near what appears to be a freight container and fence line. Pik Airfield has a number of containers on the field.

 

[Dilandu]

Not sure there's any reason for an RQ-180 to be over Golan. Tehran yes, Golan no.

Maybe flying toward Iran/returning from Iran?

 

[SOC]

It certainly seems to be a prop if you listen to the audio. But it doesn't appear to resemble the exact planform of one of the Shahed series of wings. It looks much closer to a B-21 planform.

 

[DWG]

Maybe flying toward Iran/returning from Iran?

I discarded that possibility on the basis of where would it be operating from? I don't see it being an Israeli base, why risk a lucky shot taking out a strategic asset. If it's coming from the Med it's likely from Akrotiri, or Sigonella, with the UK as a less likely source. In either case, why not ingress/egress over Syria, or Turkey, it's the more direct routing.

But the most likely base for an RQ-180 headed for Iran would either be Diego Garcia, or Al Udeid in Qatar.

Plus why would an RQ-180 be so low, it's a high altitude platform?

 

[flateric]

My bet is on RQ-180, though.

this is not RQ-180. Shikaka doesn't operate at these altitudes, neither planform proportions match it
RQ-180 is not rattling, too
Looks pretty much like
https://theaviationist.com/2024/10/29/mysterious-drone-video/

https://twitter.com/x/status/1850939951673983327

View: https://x.com/i/status/1850939951673983327

 

[Dilandu]

this is not RQ-180. Shikaka doesn't operates at these altitudes, neither planform proportions match it
RQ-180 is not rattling, too
Looks pretty much like

Hm, I stand corrected then. Thank you for the data!

 

[serg.gonzp]

It couldn't be an RQ-170. Sometimes I think the RA-01 could be an RQ-170 exported to Israel or a version of it licensed by IAI.

 

[Q-nimbus]

Possibly Fik (Pik) Airfield (LLFK). The field is used by Elbit Systems to test unmanned aerial vehicles. The flight path of the drones take it immediately over the settlement of Eliad. The airfield is not in use by anyone else but Elbit it appears.

To me the aircraft from the satellite picture look a lot like sailplanes.

 

[Dynoman]

To me the aircraft from the satellite picture look a lot like sailplanes.

Elbit drones. Representatives from the Swiss government visited the site in the Golan Heights to view tests of the Hermes 900, which to their embarrassment, they did not recognize the site as being a part of Israel.
https://www.ynetnews.com/article/5037614

 

[Q-nimbus]

Elbit drones. Representatives from the Swiss government visited the site in the Golan Heights to view tests of the Hermes 900, which to their embarrassment, they did not recognize the site as being a part of Israel.
https://www.ynetnews.com/article/5037614

Thank you for this correction, good to know.

If I were a betting man I would say that the new stealth drone we’ve been seeing over Israel lately is American, operated by the Israeli’s and the follow up to the RQ-170. The RQ-170 is and has been a fairly basic and hastily put together design, and since it’s crash in Iran also compromised.

I would be very surprised if there hasn’t been an RQ-170 follow up flying around for close to a decade.

What’s new is that the USA is willing to lend Israel their most advanced tech.

 

[VishnuOsiris]

Would anyone care to speculate as to whether RA-01 can perform strikes? My impression is that "RA" would refer to Recce/Attack, as opposed to the common place "RQ." Granted we have only one source reference. I would be surprised if this were the case, "time-sensitive targets" aside.

 

[quellish]

Would anyone care to speculate as to whether RA-01 can perform strikes? My impression is that "RA" would refer to Recce/Attack, as opposed to the common place "RQ." Granted we have only one source reference. I would be surprised if this were the case, "time-sensitive targets" aside.

https://www.secretprojects.co.uk/th...e-top-secret-israeli-drone.44594/#post-720582

 

[raptor82]

https://twitter.com/x/status/2028475763058495710

View: https://x.com/FaytuksNetwork/status/2028475763058495710

 

[publiusr]

Where economics and aerodynamics fossilized passenger plane design in stone...drones retain a bit of the jaunty 'try-anything' approach of the days of early flying machines....good