Heron reaches new flight hour milestone
Israel Aerospace Industries' (IAI) Heron 1 Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) has marked its 70,000th flight hour in support of operations in Afghanistan, IAI announced on 28 December.
Heron has been deployed by a number of NATO countries in Afghanistan, including Germany, France, Canada and Australia, over the last seven years of operations.
Heron 1 provides intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance information in real-time to commanders and frontline soldiers. It carries a variety of sensors, which are able to provide information over a wide area for an extended period.
Shaul Shahar, corporate vice president and general manager, IAI’s Military Aircraft Group, said: ‘The remarkable number of operational flight hours in Afghanistan demonstrates Heron's reliability and unique operational availability in a variety of missions in ground, maritime and aerial arenas.’
Related Equipment in Defence Insight
More from Uncrewed Vehicles
-
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
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’s portfolio will grow thanks to the eVTOL P550 aimed at battalion-level tactical forces.
-
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
Prototypes from Griffon Aerospace and Textron Systems recently passed through MOSA conformance trials and flight tests.
-
Pentagon adds Replicator 2 to budget request with focus on C-sUAS capabilities
Funds for the second phase of this effort will be allocated in the US Department of Defense (DoD) FY2026 budget request.