GA-ASI is trying to block the Drone Deal between IAI and Germany

General Atomics has reportedly filed a lawsuit protesting the German decision to lease between three and five Heron TP UAVs from IAI. This will likely result in a delay of several months

General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc (GA-ASI) is challenging in the courts Germany's recent decision to lease Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) Heron TP medium-altitude long-endurance (MALE) unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) instead of procuring its own MQ-9 Reaper, according to a report on janes.

The US company filed a lawsuit with the German high court on 29 August protesting the Bundeswehr's decision, announced in January, to lease between three and five Heron TP UAVs from 2018, at a cost of about EUR 580 million (USD 646 million).

As reported by Reuters, the reasons behind GA-ASI's protest have not been revealed, other than it follows an earlier complaint against the leasing arrangement that was lodged with the German cartel office in June and which was rejected on 17 August.

GA-ASI has been pushing its Reaper platform to Germany for a number of years, and in 2008 the country's government went so far as to request a sale from the United States. On that occasion, however, it ultimately decided to adopt the IAI Heron 1 instead.

With the Bundeswehr already fielding three IAI Heron 1 UAVs, it plans to replace these with the larger and more capable Heron TP to fulfil its interim MALE UAV requirements. These will be operated by IAI in Israel (with Airbus Defense and Space managing the contract), and were due to be available to the Bundeswehr from 2018.

Whatever the reason behind the protest, it will likely result in a delay of several months to the Bundeswehr's fielding of its new MALE UAV capability

 

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