HAI E1-79 Pegasus (series)

History

The HAI E1-79 "Pegasus" is a Greek-made unmanned aircraft used for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) missions in the military. It was developed by the Hellenic Aerospace Industry (HAI). The project started in 1979, but it took until 1992 for it to officially enter service.

The Pegasus has two propellers and a flat body with high wings, typical of unmanned aircraft systems. It has a tricycle landing gear that remains down during flight. It also has a sensor and camera turret under its body. Its dimensions are relatively small, with a length of 6.9 feet and a wingspan of 16.4 feet. It can fly at speeds of up to 100 miles per hour and has a 3.5-hour endurance with its internal fuel.

There's also a "Pegasus II," which is a larger and more advanced version of the original Pegasus. It was introduced in 2005 and has limited production. It's 14.1 feet long, with a wingspan of 20.34 feet and can stay in the air for about 15 hours, still primarily used for ISR missions.

Specification

Basics

Year of Service: 1992

Origins: Greece

Status: Active.

Production: 20

Manufacturer: Hellenic Aerospace Industries (HAI) / State Aircraft Factory (SAF) Greece

Operator: Greece

Roles

Intelligence-Surveillance-Reconnaissance (ISR), Scouts

Monitor ground targets/target areas to assess surrounding threat levels, enemy strength, or enemy movement.

Unmanned

Aircraft designed (or later developed) have inherent unmanned capabilities and can fill a variety of battlefield roles.

Dimensions and Weight

Length: 14.1 ft (4.30m)

Width/span: 20.3 feet (6.20m)

Cured weight: 441 lbs (200kg)

MTOW: 551 lbs (250kg)

Wgt Difference: +110 lbs (+50 kg)

Performance

Installed: 1 conventional engine located in the rear of the fuselage, driving the twin-bladed propeller unit in a thrust arrangement.

Maximum speed: 99 km/h (160 km/h | 86 knots)

Area: 1,243 km (2,000 km | 3,704 nautical miles)

VARIANTS

Pegasus II - Larger size and increased operating weight variant; improved operational performance.