Advanced Israeli UAV drone crashes in Israel during test flight: Air Force's Heron TP (IAI Eitan)

A Heron TP unmanned aerial vehicle, or UAV drone, crashed during a test flight in central Israel. No injuries were reported and a probe is underway to discover whether the crash was due to human error or mechanical failure. Also known as the IAI Eitan, the Heron TP is Israel's most advanced drone and the largest UAV in the Israeli Air Force.

It has a 26-meter wingspan -- the same as a Boeing 737 -- and can stay airborne for up to 45 hours. It is often called "the drone that can reach Iran" and was declared on schedule to be operational by the end of 2012. It can carry up to one tonne in payload and has the ability to launch missiles. Israel exports UAV drone technology, and last July, France announced its decision to buy the Heron TP in its first export estimated to be worth USD 500 million.