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
-
Exail to supply Caméléon unmanned demining robots to Belgium Armed Forces
The Caméléon LG UGV includes remote operational capabilities and real-time hazard detection.
-
US Army Aviation targets increased UAS and CUAS capabilities
Despite claiming there was no need for a drone corps, Army Aviation remains ready to address UAS and CUAS warfighter requirements, as it focuses on adaptability and rapid deployment across all levels of warfare.
-
Strategic overview: The Ukraine conflict’s robotic armies
Kiev and Moscow have been competing over who can better harness the ongoing revolution in military affairs caused by AI-controlled and human-operated robots and drones.
-
More Russian UAS go astray while attacking Ukraine
This time, the UAS flew into NATO airspace, though there is no evidence that they did so deliberately.
-
UAVs in multiple classes proliferate in South Korea
South Korea is rapidly advancing its UAV programmes and counter-drone capabilities in response to increasing threats from North Korea’s unmanned aerial systems.