Israel Grounds Heron Drone Squadron After Second Crash

Defense News ,Israel :- In a recent incident reported by Ynet, a Shoval-type UAV experienced a technical malfunction during a routine mission in the Shephelah area after returning from the Gaza Strip. Following the crash landing, fire and rescue teams swiftly responded to extinguish a resulting fire.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) spokesperson stated, "A Shoval-type UAV fell this week during a routine activity in the Shephelah area. There were no casualties, and the incident will be investigated. The commander of the Air Force, Major General Tomer Bar, instructed that the Shoval formation will be grounded until the end of the investigation of the incident."

This marks the second incident involving a Heron (Shoval) medium-sized UAV since the outbreak of conflict, with the first occurring during the intense ground maneuver in Gaza amid the Hamas-led October 7 massacres and hostage abductions.

The IDF's decision to ground Squadron 200 for the investigation, as reported by Ynet, will not impact overall IDF drone operations. Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) play a crucial role in intelligence gathering, supporting ground troops in the Gaza Strip, and executing attacks on enemy targets.