Bundeswehr Heron 1 to continue Mali operations
The Budget Committee of the German parliament on 13 May approved funding for the extension of the Heron 1 UAS deployment in Mali.
Approximately €30 million ($32.4 million) has been allocated for the one-year extension, with another one-year extension available for 2021-2022.
Funding also covers all procurement and development projects in connection with the Mali mission, in which Germany participates as a member of the UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA).
The Heron 1 is only operated by Bundeswehr personnel and provides additional ISR capabilities to UN forces stationed in Gao as part of MINUSMA.
From 2023, it is expected that the Heron 1 will be replaced by Germany’s Heron TP UAS, if the UN continues to require its capabilities.
Payload options for the Heron 1 include multi-sensor mission capability, ELM-2022 maritime patrol radar, SAR, IAI EO.TV/IR and laser, ESM and COMINT. It is powered by a 4-cylinder Rotax 914 100hp four-cycle engine.
The Bundeswehr currently has eight Heron 1 units in its inventory, according to Shephard Defence Insight.
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