German Heron 1 UAS flies in Mali
Germany's Heron 1 UAS has completed its first operational flight in support of the German Army’s mission in Mali on 1 November, Airbus Defence and Space announced on 3 November.
Airbus DS Airborne Solutions (ADAS) is responsible for the operation, provision, maintenance and overhaul of Germany’s Heron UAS in Mali under a contract signed in July 2016. The contract, which will run until February 2018, follows the company’s operation of the Heron 1 system for German forces in Afghanistan.
The first operational flight saw the UAS depart from Gao airport and undertake a five hour 40 minute mission. This flight is part of work to obtain full operational capability (FOC) for the UAS. To achieve FOC, three aircraft will be stationed in Gao and deployed in reconnaissance missions over the north-east of the country.
The reconnaissance results are made available to the joint evaluation centre of the MINUSMA Mission, contributing to increased security for all employees involved in this UN deployment.
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