The largest animal to ever exist on Earth is the blue whale. A slender-bodied baleen whale, the largest confirmed blue whale measured 108 feet long and weighed more than 200 tons. These majestic whales have an average cruising speed of 5 mph and can dive between 6,562 feet and 7,217 feet. Despite their immense size and having one of the loudest vocalizations in the animal kingdom, blue whales are surprisingly stealthy creatures. These features inspired Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) to name one of their largest drone projects the BlueWhale System.

IAI was originally founded as Bedek Aviation Company in 1953 by American World War II veteran and aviation expert Al Schwimmer and Israel’s youngest ever Director of Defense, Shimon Peres, who would go on to become Israel’s eighth Prime Minister. IAI’s website states that the company “started out as an all-purpose service and supplies provider, specializing in air defense solutions. In the decades since, the company has grown to become a world leader in both the defense and commercial markets, developing, producing, and delivering state-of-the-art technologies and systems across a range of domains, including air, land, sea, space, cyber, homeland security, and ISR.”

Today, IAI is considered a leader in the development of military-grade technology, especially unmanned technology, such as aerial, terrestrial, and now, aquatic drones. IAI’s maritime drone fleet includes two aerial drones (the Maritime Heron and ThunderB-VTOL), a surface drone (the KATANA), and the BlueWhale System, which is an unmanned submarine. Though IAI’s BlueWhale can’t exactly measure up to its namesake, it is an impressively large and technologically advanced underwater drone. The drone measures 36 feet long and weighs 5.5 tons, a little larger than a baby blue whale. It has an average cruising speed of about 8 mph, can dive up to 984 feet, and remain submerged for up to 30 days.

As described on IAI’s product page, “Agile and stealthy, this autonomous submarine system sails through the same waters enemy submarines frequent, marking a breakthrough in underwater defense capabilities. Proven in operation, it boasts the versatility to carry extensive payloads for naval missions of intelligence and tactical operations. With its ability to discreetly track and gather intelligence, BlueWhale ensures a formidable tactical advantage in the undersea battlespace, ready for rapid deployment and equipped for endurance.” The ready-to-deploy system is packed into a 40-foot container to be transported to any port, either by land, air, or sea.

Recently, a BlueWhale System was shipped to the Baltic Sea, where it was launched by the German Navy in an operation co-sponsored by NATO. Using traditional submarines in the Baltic is difficult, as the region is highly trafficked and has many shallow areas. Currently, the waters of the Baltic are one of the most contested areas of the world. Concerns about espionage or attacks on critical underwater infrastructure by Russia or North Korea have prompted European nations to seek alternate defensive and offensive strategies. IAI’s BlueWhale is the perfect alternative solution.

Boaz Levy, IAI’s CEO, said, ” We are facing a new era in which submarines will change the situational picture and operational capabilities like the changes brought about by unmanned aircraft in the past. An autonomous submarine can perform a significant portion of the tasks of a manned submarine, without the need for operators on board, for up to several weeks. In addition to its intelligence-gathering capabilities, the BlueWhale system excels in detecting other submarines and covertly mapping mines on the seabed, using its advanced sonar systems.”

IAI’s foray into unmanned technology began with the Scout in 1979, establishing the country’s dominance in the development of drone systems. Today, the BlueWhale joins a fleet of drones deployed by nations around the world who have come to trust IAI’s reliable assets. As technology continues to advance, systems like IAI’s BlueWhale represent the future of defense and surveillance in challenging maritime environments.

With its combination of stealth, endurance, and cutting-edge capabilities, the BlueWhale System is poised to play a crucial role in underwater defense strategies worldwide. As nations navigate the complexities of modern warfare, autonomous technologies like these will undoubtedly reshape the way military operations are conducted, ensuring greater security and tactical advantage in contested waters.

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