On Sunday, an official ceremony was held marking the launch of the IAF's fresh air plane, the "Eitan". The plane is believed to be able to stay in the air for 24 hours and reach nations as far away as Iran, though its main function is stated to be surveillance and not assault.

The Eitan is an un-manned aerial vehicle, developed in a cooperation of the Israel Aerospace Industries and the IAF. According to the IAF, the Eitan “marks a technological breakthrough and a new level in the air force's ability to operate against threats,come and far, in its every day missions and throughout emergency.”

IAF Chief Maj. Gen. Nehushtan said through the ceremony: "The launching of this air plane is another, substantial landmark in the development of unmanned aerial vehicles. From the humble beginning of their development, with initial operational results through the first Lebanon conflict, to the substantial and professional apparatus that now accompanies almost any air force operational frame work"