IAI - Eagle B-Hunter UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle)

On December 10th, 1998 the council of ministers approved the acquisition of three B-Hunter UAV-systems, each consisting of 6 aircraft and two ground control stations. The Unmanned Aerial Vehicles replace the MBLE "Epervier" UAVs that were struck of charge in September 1999. The B-Hunters systems are normally based at Elsenborn while some three aircraft are detached to Koksijde airbase on a regular basis to perform pollution control missions in the Belgian territorial waters.


271 c/n BH271

• 260301: first validation flight at Elsenborn
• 180702: officially taken on charge
• 220605-281005: deployed to Tuzla (Bosnia) for Operation "Watchfull Eyes"
• 000006: Active 80 UAV Sqn, Elsenborn
• 160610: Destroyed at De Moeren when a parachute recovery landing failed and the aircraft ended up against a tree. This method of landing was necessary due to sudden severe wind conditions.
  

Koksijde 01/09/2001 - Photo Daniël Brackx ©

272 c/n BH272

• 180702: officially taken on charge
• 000006: Active 80 UAV Sqn, Elsenborn

Koksijde 02/04/2009 - Photo Daniel Brackx ©

273 c/n BH273

• 180702: officially taken on charge
• 220605-281005: deployed to Tuzla (Bosnia) for Operation "Watchfull Eyes"
• 000006: Active 80 UAV Sqn, Elsenborn

Tuzla 24/08/2005 - Photo Daniel Brackx ©

274 c/n BH274

• 180702: officially taken on charge
• 000006: Active 80 UAV Sqn, Elsenborn

Zeebrugge 090705 Photo: Laurent Heyligen ©


275 c/n BH275

• 300800: crash during automatic landing test in Israël (prototype), never officially taken on charge by the Belgian Air Component

276 c/n BH276

• 180702: officially taken on charge
• 220605-281005: deployed to Tuzla (Bosnia) for Operation "Watchfull Eyes"
• 000006: Active 80 UAV Sqn, Elsenborn

Tuzla 240805 - Photo Daniel Brackx ©

277 c/n BH277

• 180702: officially taken on charge
• 220605-281005: deployed to Tuzla (Bosnia) for Operation "Watchfull Eyes"
• 110706: arrived N'Dolo (Kinshasa) for EUFOR-operation in RD Congo (yellow high visilibility markings applied)
• 031006: Crash after take-off from N'Dolo. Apparently the pilot was afraid the aircraft would not get airborne in time before the end of the runway, and he switched off both engines, but as the aircraft was already in the air it crashed a few hundred metres after the end of the runway on Boulevard Triomphal. One woman on the ground was killed and at least three others were injured.
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Saffraanberg 230406 Photo: Laurent Heyligen ©


278 c/n BH278

• 091202: officially taken on charge
• 000006: Active 80 UAV Sqn, Elsenborn

279 c/n BH279

• 091202: officially taken on charge
• 050506: Seriously damaged during a heavy landing at Elsenborn. The aircraft was destroyed although certain elements are considered to be reusable.

280 c/n BH280

• 130902: officially taken on charge
• 000006: Active 80 UAV Sqn, Elsenborn
• 040811: First noted with Belgian markings at Florennes aibase.
  

Koksijde 010706 Photo: Laurent Heyligen ©


281 c/n BH281

• 060204: officially taken on charge
• 220605-281005: deployed to Tuzla (Bosnia) for Operation "Watchfull Eyes"
• 110706: arrived N'Dolo (Kinshasa) for EUFOR-operation in RD Congo
• 000006: Active 80 UAV Sqn, Elsenborn

Koksijde 081205 - Photo: Daniel Brackx ©

282 c/n BH282

• 130902: officially taken on charge
• 220605-281005: deployed to Tuzla (Bosnia) for Operation "Watchfull Eyes"
• 030607: written-off in a landing accident at Elsenborn

Kleine Brogel 200704 - Photo: Daniel Brackx ©

283 c/n BH283

• 091202: officially taken on charge
• 110706 arrived N'Dolo (Kinshasa) for EUFOR-operation in RD Congo (yellow high visilibility markings applied)
• 000006: Active 80 UAV Sqn, Elsenborn

N'Dolo 110906 - Photo Gérard Gaudin ©


284 c/n BH284

• 130902: officially taken on charge
• 000006: Active 80 UAV Sqn, Elsenborn

285 c/n BH285

• 091202: officially taken on charge
• 110706: arrived N'Dolo (Kinshasa) for EUFOR-operation in RD Congo
• 280706: Shot down on its first three-hour shakedown flight in Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) following the type's deployment to the DRC on July 12 in support of EUFOR Congo. Part of the UAV fell in the Congo River; the rest struck a house and started a fire, injuring six people on the ground. The UAV was flying at 1300ft (400m) over marshland near Kinshasa/N'Dolo Airport when a lone gunman with a known criminal record apparently took a single shot at it with his Kalashnikov AK-47. By sheer misfortune, the bullit hit the left side of fuselage and then entered the wing root and struck the wing spar, destroying it and causing the wing to fold up.

Koksijde 030805 Photo: Laurent Heyligen ©


286 c/n BH286

• 130902: officially taken on charge
• 000006: Active 80 UAV Sqn, Elsenborn

287 c/n BH287

• 130902: officially taken on charge
• 000006: Active 80 UAV Sqn, Elsenborn

288 c/n BH288

• 130902: officially taken on charge
• 000006: Active 80 UAV Sqn, Elsenborn
• 091007: After several landing attempt and facing unapropriate weather conditions for a standard automatic landing procedure the 80 UAV Sqn staff has simply opted for the pre-programmed - but seldomly practized - emergency procedure: a parachute landing in a predetermined area of the airbase, and, everything went OK. Despite it doesn't present any external dammage the BH-288 will be closely inspected in the next days by the 80 UAV Sqn maintenance and should be back in the air very soon.
• 150315: First noted in a dark grey colorscheme, will be used for displays.

Koksijde 051007 - Photo: Björn Vermoote ©

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