By Arie Egozi, Autonomy Global – Ambassador for Israel
The Orbiter 5 tactical UAV from Israeli company Aeronautics has emerged as a high-autonomy platform whose performance is increasingly driven by artificial intelligence (AI). Israeli defense sources indicate that AI now underpins the system’s ISTAR (Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition and Reconnaissance as an integrated whole) functionality. This enables multi-mission operations with multiple payloads of 25 kg or more, including the option to fly with two payloads simultaneously.
The Orbiter 5 uses AI-based algorithms to optimize its operations, particularly when managing complex sensor payload suites such as electro-optical and infrared (EO/IR), radar, Communications Intelligence/Electronic Intelligence (COMINT/ELINT) and electronic warfare (EW) systems. Aeronautics designed this onboard intelligence to orchestrate several sensors at once, fuse data in real time,and support faster, more automated decision cycles during demanding missions.
The UAV also incorporates an advanced navigation system that remains fully operational in GPS-denied environments. It leverages higher-order autonomy and algorithmic decision-making beyond a basic autopilot. Orbiter 5 supports autonomous flight and recovery modes and is intended for rapid, multi-platform launch concepts that reduce operator workload through embedded decision logic.
Up to 600 W of electrical power is available for “complex payloads” and onboard mission systems. This powers AI-driven applications such as automatic target detection, tracking,and classification using EO/IR and radar data. According to sources, this level of AI integration positions Orbiter 5 among the leading “high autonomy” UAVs in its tactical class.
On the airframe side, Orbiter 5 has a maximum takeoff weight of 75 kg, measures 2.4 meters in length,and features a 6.4-meter wingspan. It carries a 25 kg payload and can reach speeds of approximately 70 knots. It balances persistence with sufficient dash speed for responsive ISR tasking.
Orbiter 5 is categorized as a tactical UAV with “more than 25 hours” endurance and an operational ceiling of about 18,000 ft. This >25-hour endurance places the system in the upper tier of tactical UAVs, overlapping with smaller Medium-Altitude Long-Endurance (MALE) platforms in persistence while retaining runway independence. The 18,000 ft ceiling is well suited to ISTAR, EW and maritime radar mission profiles in contested airspace.