Project Heron 1 on the right track

18th February 2010 - 10:45 GMT | by The Shephard News Team

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Eight Luftwaffe airmen have graduated and are now licenced to fly the Heron 1 UAV and operate its sensor equipment.

The Heron 1 project will provide the Luftwaffe with a UAV capable of all-weather surveillance and reconnaissance and provide a means of gathering highly sensitive intelligence information technology, which can be used tp assessing the situation in an area in near real time.

This capability is another key building block to enhance the protection of German soldiers in action. Thus the system will operate at middle and high altitudes to observe and support the ground forces. It is planned to use the aircraft from March 2010 in Afghanistan. To this end, extensive training of operators and technicians are needed.

The German government sent personnel and technicians to Israel in late 2009 to be trained by the Heron's manufacturer, IAI.

The aircraft will come under the commmand of Reconnaissance Wing 51 "Immelmann" which will become the first Luftwaffe UAV squadron formed on February 5. The unit will also fly the Northrop Grumman Euro Hawk which will begin operations in 2011.

The Heron is a propeller-driven UAV with a wingspan of about 16 meters, a maximum takeoff weight of 1,200 kg and a payload of up to 250 kg. At an altitude of up to 27,000 ft (9,000 m), the Heron can stay airborne for up to 24 hours. The operating range is approximately 400 km.

Source: German Air Force / Luftwaffe