Aircraft & UAVs

Aeronautics Aerostar NG

Also known as
  • Aerostar Next Generation
  • Aerostar Tactical UAS
  • Aerostar TUAS
  • Aerostar UAV

Aeronautics Aerostar NG is an Israeli tactical MALE UAS in the Aerostar family, built around a modular multi-mission payload bay and long-range LOS or SATCOM datalink options. Aeronautics describes the platform as a combat-proven system with more than 250,000 flight hours worldwide, while open service reporting places Aerostar tactical UAVs with the Indonesian Air Force.

Profile / Specs

Specifications

MTOW
240 kg
Payload
40 kg
Endurance
More than 12 hours
Max speed
100 kt
Wingspan
8.7 m
Length
4.5 m
Datalink
LOS up to 250 km; BLOS-SATCOM unlimited
Navigation
GPS/INS navigation and targeting, including GPS-denied zones
Launch and recovery
ATOL system; limited-airfield operation with small logistic footprint
Flight hours
More than 250,000 worldwide for the Aerostar family
Mission Payloads

Aeronautics describes Aerostar NG as a modular multi-payload platform with intelligence, surveillance, radar, and electronic-warfare options.

Carried itemItem typeCarriage evidence
EO/IR with Laser Pointer, Electro-optical/infrared sensor payload with laser pointer, Aircraft & UAVsEO/IR with Laser PointerElectro-optical and infrared payload

Aeronautics lists EO/IR-LTD among the Aerostar NG's selectable payload options.

Sources: Aerostar NG

ELINT, Electronic intelligence payload, Electronic WarfareELINTElectronic intelligence payload

Aeronautics lists ELINT among the Aerostar NG's available sensors and payloads.

Sources: Aerostar NG

COMINT, Communications intelligence payload, Electronic WarfareCOMINTCommunications intelligence payload

Aeronautics lists COMINT among the Aerostar NG's selectable payload options.

Sources: Aerostar NG

Orbiter 2 EW payload, Electronic warfare payload option, Electronic WarfareOrbiter 2 EW payloadElectronic warfare payload

Aeronautics lists EW among the Aerostar NG's selectable payload options.

Sources: Aerostar NG

Communication Jammer, Jammer payload option, Electronic WarfareCommunication JammerJammer payload

Aeronautics lists a jammer payload option for Aerostar NG alongside ISR and signals-intelligence payloads.

Sources: Aerostar NG

Configuration And Service Notes

Aerostar NG is best read as a configurable unmanned-aircraft system rather than a single fixed sensor fit. Public sources describe the current Aeronautics payload architecture and separate it from broader Aerostar-family service reporting.

AreaDocumented detailReader note
Air vehicle240 kg MTOW, 40 kg payload, 8.7 m wingspan, and more than 12 hours enduranceThe published figures place Aerostar NG between smaller tactical UAVs and larger theater MALE systems.
Control and basingLOS datalink up to 250 km, BLOS-SATCOM option, ATOL, and limited-airfield operationThe system is presented for expeditionary ISR missions where runway and support footprints are constrained.
Mission payloadsEO/IR-LTD, ELINT, COMINT, SIGINT, SAR, MPR/AIS, WASP, MTI, jammer, and electronic-warfare optionsAeronautics lists these as selectable payload categories, so individual operator configurations may differ.
Open service evidenceIndonesian Aerostar tactical UAVs at Supadio Air Base and in 2024 parade imageryThe open reports support Indonesian Aerostar-family service context but do not by themselves document Aerostar NG combat use.
Timeline

Aeronautics Aerostar NG Key Events

  1. Indonesian Aerostar shown publicly

    An Indonesian Air Force Aerostar Tactical UAV appeared in the 79th Armed Forces Day parade imagery, giving the page an open-license visual reference for the Aerostar family in Indonesian service.

    Sources: Commons Aerostar Indonesian Air Force Image

  2. Janes reports West Borneo basing

    Janes reported that Indonesia had based its fleet of Israeli-made Aerostar tactical UAVs at Supadio Air Base near Pontianak and connected the aircraft to Indonesian Air Force UAV operations.

    Sources: Janes Indonesia Aerostar West Borneo

Media
Related Weapon Systems
Aeronautics Orbiter 3 UAV, Small tactical unmanned aircraft system, Aircraft & UAVsAircraft & UAVsAeronautics Orbiter 3 UAVSmall tactical unmanned aircraft systemThe Aeronautics Orbiter 3 is a fully electric, runway-independent small tactical UAS built for ISTAR missions and modular payloads. Aeronautics now advertises up to 10 hours of endurance, launcher-and-parachute recovery or an add-on VTOL kit, and payload options that include EO/IR, ELINT, COMINT, EW, SAR, VMD, and MTI. Azerbaijan fielded Orbiter 3s in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, and Aeronautics later announced Greek procurement activity in 2023.
Aeronautics Orbiter 2, Mini unmanned aerial system, Aircraft & UAVsAircraft & UAVsAeronautics Orbiter 2Mini unmanned aerial systemThe Aeronautics Orbiter 2 is an Israeli fixed-wing mini-UAS for tactical ISR, target acquisition, surveillance, and payload-flexible mission support. Current Aeronautics material presents the Orbiter 2 ISR as a 13 kg, catapult-launched system with EO/IR, electronic-intelligence, communications-intelligence, electronic-warfare, video-processing, and jammer payload options, while Azerbaijan assembled Orbiter-family UAVs through Azad Systems and fielded Orbiter-2 reconnaissance drones in the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh war.
EO/IR with Laser Pointer, Electro-optical/infrared sensor payload with laser pointer, Aircraft & UAVsAircraft & UAVsEO/IR with Laser PointerElectro-optical/infrared sensor payload with laser pointerEO/IR with Laser Pointer is Aeronautics' electro-optical and infrared sensor payload listing for the Orbiter 2 ISR mini-UAS, not a standalone aircraft or munition. Official product material places the payload beside ELINT, COMINT, EW, ATR, VMD, onboard tracker, and communication-jammer options, while independent upgrade coverage describes the Orbiter 2 payload set as including an electro-optical payload with a laser pointer.
IAI Heron UAV, Medium-altitude long-endurance UAV, Aircraft & UAVsAircraft & UAVsIAI Heron UAVMedium-altitude long-endurance UAVThe IAI Heron is an Israeli medium-altitude long-endurance UAV family built for persistent ISR, target acquisition, maritime patrol, and multi-sensor surveillance missions. IAI describes Heron 1, known in Israeli service as Shoval, and Heron Mk II as SATCOM-capable MALE platforms with automatic taxi, takeoff, and landing, while conflict sourcing ties the family to Israeli operations in Gaza and Iran, Azerbaijani reconnaissance and targeting in Nagorno-Karabakh, and Indian Heron Mk II operations during Operation Sindoor.
IAI Heron TP, Strategic medium-altitude long-endurance UAV, Aircraft & UAVsAircraft & UAVsIAI Heron TPStrategic medium-altitude long-endurance UAVThe IAI Heron TP is the large strategic member of Israel Aerospace Industries' Heron UAV family, known in Israeli Air Force service as Eitan. It is built for long-range, high-altitude intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition, reconnaissance, and multi-payload missions, with official specifications listing a 5,670 kg maximum takeoff weight, more than 30 hours endurance, beyond-line-of-sight SATCOM operation, and payload capacity far above the smaller Heron 1. Conflict sourcing ties the type to Israeli Operation Cast Lead ISR, Iron Swords surveillance sorties, and Operation Rising Lion missions over Iran, while official German program sources document a customized German Heron TP configuration for Bundeswehr ISR service.

Sources