Germany Extends Heron 1 Lease Until 2020
The German Air Force has been using the Heron 1 in Afghanistan since 2010 and in Mali since 2016. Until today, in total and over both countries, more than 46,000 operational flying hours have been successfully flown
IsraelDefense
| 17/12/2018
https://www.airbus.com/newsroom/press-releases/de/2018/12/Germany-extends-the-contracts-for-the-operation-of-the-Heron-1-drones-in-Afghanistan-and-Mali.html
Germany has extended the lease of IAI-made Heron 1 UAVs until mid of 2020. The announcement was made by Airbus, the primary contractor, after signing the contract with the Federal Office of Bundeswehr Equipment, Information Technology and In-Service Support on December 12, 2018.
Heron 1 is a medium altitude long endurance (MALE) unmanned aerial system (UAS) which can stay airborne above the respective operational area for very long periods and can be operated from unpaved runways under harsh environmental conditions.
The Heron 1 has a wingspan of about seventeen meters and a maximum mission duration of more than twenty-four hours. The detection of IEDs from the air, convoy and patrol unit escort, route exploration and supervision, creation of movement profiles and long-term supervision, support for status reports as well as object and camp protection rank among the military tasks. In addition, the system is also used for security and humanitarian support operations.
The German Air Force has been using the Heron 1 system in Afghanistan since 2010 and in Mali since 2016. With its operational range of up to 800 kilometers, it significantly expands the possibilities of airborne reconnaissance of the German contingent. Until today, in total and over both countries, more than 46,000 operational flying hours have been successfully flown.
Airbus is responsible for the provision, maintenance, and repair of the systems and guarantees the agreed operational availability of Heron 1 in both Afghanistan and Mali on the basis of a services model.
“In Afghanistan and Mali, the services model has proven its performance capability by reaching a system availability of more than 98%. The proven capability of the Heron system to support worldwide deployment missions is reflected in these contract extensions as well as in the signed contract on the next-generation RPAS MALE HERON TP,” said Ralf Hastedt, Head of Sales and Business Development of Airbus DS Airborne Solutions GmbH.
“We are very pleased to see the satisfaction of the German Air Force with the Heron UAS activities and the excellent cooperation with Airbus DS Airborne Solutions, forming the basis for such a renewed contract extending the capabilities for long-range airborne reconnaissance of the German Air Force in Afghanistan and Mali by at least another year,” said Moshe Levy, IAI Executive Vice President and General Manager of IAI Military Aircraft Group.
The German Air Force has been using the Heron 1 in Afghanistan since 2010 and in Mali since 2016. Until today, in total and over both countries, more than 46,000 operational flying hours have been successfully flown
https://www.airbus.com/newsroom/press-releases/de/2018/12/Germany-extends-the-contracts-for-the-operation-of-the-Heron-1-drones-in-Afghanistan-and-Mali.html
Germany has extended the lease of IAI-made Heron 1 UAVs until mid of 2020. The announcement was made by Airbus, the primary contractor, after signing the contract with the Federal Office of Bundeswehr Equipment, Information Technology and In-Service Support on December 12, 2018.
Heron 1 is a medium altitude long endurance (MALE) unmanned aerial system (UAS) which can stay airborne above the respective operational area for very long periods and can be operated from unpaved runways under harsh environmental conditions.
The Heron 1 has a wingspan of about seventeen meters and a maximum mission duration of more than twenty-four hours. The detection of IEDs from the air, convoy and patrol unit escort, route exploration and supervision, creation of movement profiles and long-term supervision, support for status reports as well as object and camp protection rank among the military tasks. In addition, the system is also used for security and humanitarian support operations.
The German Air Force has been using the Heron 1 system in Afghanistan since 2010 and in Mali since 2016. With its operational range of up to 800 kilometers, it significantly expands the possibilities of airborne reconnaissance of the German contingent. Until today, in total and over both countries, more than 46,000 operational flying hours have been successfully flown.
Airbus is responsible for the provision, maintenance, and repair of the systems and guarantees the agreed operational availability of Heron 1 in both Afghanistan and Mali on the basis of a services model.
“In Afghanistan and Mali, the services model has proven its performance capability by reaching a system availability of more than 98%. The proven capability of the Heron system to support worldwide deployment missions is reflected in these contract extensions as well as in the signed contract on the next-generation RPAS MALE HERON TP,” said Ralf Hastedt, Head of Sales and Business Development of Airbus DS Airborne Solutions GmbH.
“We are very pleased to see the satisfaction of the German Air Force with the Heron UAS activities and the excellent cooperation with Airbus DS Airborne Solutions, forming the basis for such a renewed contract extending the capabilities for long-range airborne reconnaissance of the German Air Force in Afghanistan and Mali by at least another year,” said Moshe Levy, IAI Executive Vice President and General Manager of IAI Military Aircraft Group.
