By Robert Wall
Eight
German air force personnel have completed training in Israel to operate
the Heron unmanned aerial vehicle due for deployment to Afghanistan
next month.
[aviationweek.com] The German government last year signed
a contract with Rheinmetall and its Heron partner, Israel Aerospace
Industries, to provide the UAV on a fee-for-service basis to meet
urgent intelligence-gathering requirements in Afghanistan. The Herons
will augment Germany’s reconnaissance Tornados deployed to
Mazar-e-Sharif. In addition to electro-optical and infrared sensors,
the Heron also could provide a radar-imaging capability the Tornados do
not have. France, Australia and Canada also use the Heron system in
Afghanistan.
The UAV squadron has been set up as
part of the 51st reconnaissance wing, which operates the recce Tornados
and will be the home for Euro Hawk signals intelligence-gathering
unmanned aircraft beginning next year.
Three Heron
air vehicles and one ground control station, representing one system,
are initially being dispatched to Afghanistan . The fee-for-service
deal eventually calls for two systems to be on hand. The initial lease
period covers one year, with options for a two-year extension.
Source: http://www.aviationweek.com
