Israeli officials are not commenting on a Syrian report that claims Damascus downed an Israeli drown. The Syrian media says a Skylark pilotless craft was taken down in the Quneitra area. While the media showed the drone that was reportedly taken down, it was intact and obviously not shot down by anti-aircraft fire.

Maariv reports that a security official familiar with the Skylark explained it is a simple aircraft used to take aerial surveillance photos. The source confirmed the photo shown by the Syrian media is that of an IAF drone but states it was not hit by anti-aircraft fire. The source added that it may very well be the aircraft landed in Syria or was compelled to land due to a malfunction.

Wikipedia

Skylark I

Skylark I is a miniature unmanned aerial vehicle. It is designed as a manpacked system for tactical surveillance and reconnaissance. Skylark is launched by hand. The payload consists of daylight CCD or optional FLIR for night operations. During operation, it sends real-time video to a portable ground station. Recovery involves a deep stall maneuver, landing on a small inflatable cushion. It has a range of 20/40 km.

Skylark is in operation with the militaries of Australia, Canada, Croatia, Czech Republic, Hungary, Israel, Macedonia, Netherlands, Poland, Slovakia and Sweden. It has been deployed in Afghanistan and Iraq. The Skylark I has also been selected by France’s Special Forces in March 2008.

Skylark II

Skylark II was unveiled in 2006. It has a range of 60 km and designed to be operated by a two-person crew and deployed using HMMWV class field vehicles. In December 2007, South Korea decided to purchase Skylark II system. Israel plans to bring the Skylark II into service by mid-2013.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)