10 June 2020: The Federal Office of Bundeswehr Equipment, Information Technology and In-Service Support (BAAINBw) have renewed the service contract with Airbus Defence and Space for Heron 1 unmanned aerial systems (UAS) in operation in Afghanistan and Mali. Also the Heron 1 systems, currently deployed by the German Armed Forces in Afghanistan and Mali will be replaced by the more powerful IAI Heron TP, following an operator agreement signed in Berlin in July 2018.
IAI manufactured Heron 1 is an unarmed medium altitude long endurance (MALE) UAS which can stay airborne above the respective theatre of operations.
If we add the Heron 1’s operations for the German Armed Forces in both Afghanistan and Mali, the Air Force’s UAV system has chalked up more than 57,500 successful operational flight hours.
Both places of deployment are being managed using a joint operator model between the Bundeswehr and industry. The Heron 1’s provision, maintenance and repair of the system is the responsibility of Airbus Defence and Space in Bremen.
This operator model impressively demonstrated its performance capabilities during operations in Afghanistan and Mali, as emphasised by proven high system readiness of 99 per cent. The deployments of the Heron system in Afghanistan and Mali also help develop expertise within the Bundeswehr with a view to future MALE RPAS systems.
German reconnaissance tasks focus on the country’s crisis regions in order to provide the best possible protection for the country’s population as well as for the German troops and the contingents of other mission nations stationed in the country.
The Heron 1 has a wingspan of 16.6 meters and a maximum mission endurance of over 24 hours. The system’s military tasks include detecting booby traps from the air, accompanying convoys and patrols, assisting forces in combat situations, reconnoitring and surveilling routes, establishing movement profiles and long-term monitoring, supporting situation assessments, and protecting property and military camps. It is also used to support humanitarian missions.
