Silent Israeli spy drone impresses Romania in exercise demo

Israeli drone maker Aero Sentinel says its G2 unmanned aircraft completed a week of demonstrations with a Romanian defense company during a Romanian Land Forces exercise, flying reconnaissance missions of up to 75 minutes despite heavy electronic jamming.

Aero Sentinel did not name the Romanian partner company, the exact exercise, or its location and dates. The company said the G2 flew intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions both day and night, detecting enemy positions and other targets while operating in what it described as a “demanding and progressively challenging” electronic warfare environment meant to simulate real combat conditions.

The G2 is a compact quadcopter built by Aero Sentinel, an Israeli company that makes tactical drones for military and security customers. The standard G2 weighs about 3.5 kg (7.7 pounds), measures roughly 60 cm (24 inches) across, and can fly for up to 80 minutes carrying a 1 kg (2.2-pound) payload, according to the company. Its typical operating range is about 7 km (4.3 miles), extending to 13 km (8 miles) with a directional antenna. Aero Sentinel markets the drone for covert surveillance because of its low acoustic signature, and the aircraft can be fitted with different camera and sensor payloads depending on the mission.

During the most intense phase of the exercise’s jamming activity, Aero Sentinel said, communications across the broader training area were severely disrupted, affecting multiple systems beyond just the drone. At that point, the G2 triggered its automated safety procedures and flew back to its home area, where operators recovered it shortly after.

Aero Sentinel said the Romanian side expressed interest in further evaluating the G2 for potential integration with strike, protection and other operational systems, though the company gave no timeline or indication of a formal procurement process.