French Harfang UAV logs 2,000 flight hours in Mali
The French Air Force has announced that the Harfang Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) has logged 2,000 flight hours in support of French operations in Mali since its deployment in January 2013.
The Harfang UAV is operated by the French Air Force’s 1/33 Belfort UAV squadron in Mali, where it conducts in-theatre intelligence gathering for combat operations. This includes assisting air force and naval aviation attack aircraft to acquire enemy targets on the ground.
The Harfang Medium Altitude Long Endurance UAV, manufactured by EADS Cassidian, can fulfil a wide range of missions, from surveillance to sensitive peacekeeping, providing real-time information at each level of the operational chain via its SATCOM datalink. It can operate with a 250 kg payload for more than 24 hours at a time.
The French Air Force has operated four Harfang UAVs since 2009, and the system has also been used intensively during operations over Afghanistan and Libya. In July, the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency announced that France had requested the purchase of 16 MQ-9 Reaper UAVs, which it also plans to deploy to Mali to meet operational requirements.
Related Equipment in Defence Insight
More from Uncrewed Vehicles
-
![Maris-Tech confirms customers signing up for Jupiter Drones codec and AI-powered system]()
Maris-Tech confirms customers signing up for Jupiter Drones codec and AI-powered system
Launched at AUSA in October, the company’s multi-stream video codec is attempting to bring a new lease of life to drone technology through its AI accelerator.
-
![AUSA 2024: Quantum-Systems targets big 2025 with UAS developments]()
AUSA 2024: Quantum-Systems targets big 2025 with UAS developments
Quantum-Systems has been upgrading its UAS family, with new versions of the Vector, Reliant and Twister drones set for release throughout 2025.
-
![US Army accelerates acquisition and field of company-level sUAS]()
US Army accelerates acquisition and field of company-level sUAS
The service has been using a Directed Requirement (DR) approach to speed up the deployment of a Medium Range Reconnaissance capability.
-
![AeroVironment to display eVTOL P550 at AUSA 2024]()
AeroVironment to display eVTOL P550 at AUSA 2024
AeroVironment’s portfolio will grow thanks to the eVTOL P550 aimed at battalion-level tactical forces.
-
![Australia’s air force aims its UAV fleet northwards]()
Australia’s air force aims its UAV fleet northwards
The Royal Australian Air Force is advancing its unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) capabilities across three key programmes as it works with the likes of Boeing and Northrop Grumman to reshape Australia’s defence strategy.
-
![FTUAS competitor trials were “very successful”, says US Army official]()
FTUAS competitor trials were “very successful”, says US Army official
Prototypes from Griffon Aerospace and Textron Systems recently passed through MOSA conformance trials and flight tests.
