IAI's Heron UAV Exhibited at the German Air Force's Pavilion at the International Aerospace Exhibition and Conferences 2010 in Berlin
Jun 14, 2010
A full-size model of Israel Aerospace Industries' (IAI) Heron Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) was on display as part of the German Air Force's exhibition at the International Aerospace Exhibition and Conferences 2010 (ILA) in Berlin, June 8th-13th.
IAI and its German partner Rheinmetall Defence Electronics (RDE) were awarded a contract worth tens of millions of dollars in October 2009 by the German Ministry of Defense to supply the Heron UAVs to the German Air Force, as part of the SAATEG (System Zur Abbildenden Aufklürung in der Tiefe des Einsatzgebietes) interim solution program. The UAVs are used in Afghanistan for joint operational missions and to increase the troops' intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities. The contract includes IAI's UAVs and ground control stations, training and simulations at IAI's facilities, and maintenance and logistical support provided by Rheinmetall representatives in Afghanistan. Within five months, IAI delivered the first system, and the German Air Force has since benefited from the high-quality intelligence provided in real time from the battlefield in Afghanistan.
All operator teams from the German Air Force complete a training course at IAI's facilities in Israel before they are stationed in Afghanistan. One of these operators is Lieutenant Colonel J., who said at the end of his training: "The Heron signifies a crucial boost to our capability, and is an important addition to the manned Tornado aircraft, which are currently gathering intelligence in Afghanistan. The Heron will help us continue to gather the information we need. One of the Heron's most important qualities is its ability to loiter for long periods of time, allowing us to gather intelligence for multiple hours, receiving it in real time."
Regarding the training process to become a certified UAV system operator, he said: "Without a doubt, we were given all the necessary tools and guidance in order to fully realize the system's potential in Luftwaffe's (the German Air Force) chosen concept of operation - the system allows for operational flexibility and modularity."
The UAVs were supplied with various IAI payloads, such as electro-optic stabilized sensors, satellite communication, and advanced radars, which allow them to complete missions – in ISR, target acquisition, and damage assessment – under any weather conditions, day and night, and to create a relevant situation picture for those on the ground.
The Heron, which weighs one ton and has a wingspan of 16.6 meters, is designed for strategic and tactical missions and can reach an altitude of up to 30,000 feet, with a loitering capability of 30 hours.
Another potential collaboration between IAI and RDE would involve supplying the Heron TP to the German forces. Heron TP, also known as the "Eitan", is an advanced version of the Heron, and is already in operational service with the Israel Air Force. It has a wingspan of 26 meters and a maximum takeoff weight of 5 tons, including 1 ton of payloads.
The Heron TP can reach a maximum altitude of 45,000 feet, with a loitering capability of approximately 36 hours, even under extreme weather conditions.
Heron TP addresses the German Air Force's needs for an ISR Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) system, and has a high cost-benefit ratio, considering that the system is fully operational and has proven capabilities.
For further details, please contact:
Doron Suslik
Deputy Corporate VP of Communications
Tel: +972-3-935-8509
Fax: +972-3-935-8512
Email: hpaz@iai.co.il
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