Heron 1 UAS Exceeds Over 15,000 Flight Hours in Afghanistan

By Caroline Rees / 24 Jul 2013

Smart Sourcing for Unmanned Systems

Discover cutting-edge solutions from leading global suppliers
SUPPLIER SPOTLIGHT
Follow UST
Heron 1 UAS

The Heron 1 UAS

At the beginning of July, the Heron 1 UAS logged its 15,000th operational flight hour. The three systems, which are operated by Cassidian subsidiary Airborne Solutions on behalf of the Luftwaffe, are stationed in Mazar-e-Sharif in north Afghanistan where they are serviced by an experienced team of engineers, pilots and UAS specialists.

The Heron 1 unmanned reconnaissance system’s sensors deliver useful information round the clock for preparing and carrying out military operations. The integrated satellite datalink thereby enables the Bundeswehr and its Nato partners to monitor the entire northern half of Afghanistan, whose surface area of more than 300,000m2 almost equals the size of the Federal Republic of Germany. Heron thus makes a meanwhile invaluable contribution to protecting soldiers and the civilian population in the theatre of operations.

The unmanned reconnaissance system’s availability for monitoring ongoing operations from the air via real-time video has in the meantime become an essential criterion for carrying out operations. The Heron 1’s acceptance and unrestricted operational readiness is ensured by an on-site maintenance team from Cassidian, which guarantees the three aircraft and two ground segments’ readiness 24/7. So far, Heron 1 has logged more than 1,300 flights in Afghanistan.

Thomas Reinartz, Managing Director of Cassidian Airborne Solutions, emphasised: “With this system the Luftwaffe is performing leading services in comparison to other nations. The positive system and mission experience thus gained by the Luftwaffe and industry will be incorporated into future UAS use.”

Heron 1 is deployed by the Bundeswehr in a so-called operator model, on a leasing basis. Cassidian subsidiary Cassidian Airborne Solutions, headquartered in Bremen, is responsible for all maintenance work and ensures that the UAS are available to the Bundeswehr at a moment’s notice. The contract also provides for the take-offs and landings in Mazar-e-Sharif to be controlled by Cassidian “pilots”, after which the aircraft are handed over in the air to Bundeswehr personnel. The Bundeswehr is thus able to dedicate its full attention to completing its mission, as staff are not burdened with auxiliary tasks (take-off, landing, maintenance and repair).

Manufactured by the Israeli company IAI, Heron 1 is a medium altitude long endurance (Male) UAS for the respective theatre of operation. The aircraft has a wingspan of 17 metres and a maximum mission endurance of over 24 hours. Its tasks include detecting booby traps from the air, accompanying convoys and patrols, assisting forces in combat situations, reconnoitring and surveilling routes, establishing movement profiles and long-term monitoring, supporting situation assessments, and protecting property and military camps.

Posted by Caroline Rees Caroline co-founded Unmanned Systems Technology and has been at the forefront of the business ever since. With a Masters Degree in marketing Caroline has her finger on the pulse of all things unmanned and is committed to showcasing the very latest in unmanned technical innovation. Connect & Contact

Latest Articles

Loitering Munitions to be Integrated with Trillium Drone Camera Gimbals

Trillium Engineering has secured a Phase One contract with Raytheon to supply its HD25-LV drone camera gimbal for loitering munitions, supporting operations with tactical EO/IR solutions

Feb 18, 2025
Enhancing USV Navigation with 3D Forward Looking Sonar Technology

FarSounder’s Argos series 3D Forward Looking Sonars enhance USV navigation by providing real-time underwater awareness, overcoming charting limitations, and improving safety across diverse maritime applications

Feb 18, 2025
Hydrogen Fuel-Cell Powered VTOL UAV Introduced

BlueBird Aero Systems introduces the WanderB-VTOL Mini-UAS, built for rapid deployment in any environment and powered by new PEW Fuel-Cell Technology

Feb 18, 2025
Product Spotlight: XPedite7770 High-Performance Single Board Computer

The XPedite7770 from Extreme Engineering Solutions delivers secure, high-performance computing for unmanned systems, featuring Intel® Xeon® D-1700 processors, advanced networking, and SOSA-aligned architecture

Feb 18, 2025
European Drone Battery Maker Opens U.S. Operations

Tulip Tech, a European drone battery manufacturer, is expanding into the U.S. to meet rising demand, offering advanced, high-performance power solutions for drones

Feb 18, 2025
ArduSimple NTRIP RTK Setup for High-Precision Autopilot Navigation

In this tutorial, learn how to use ArduSimple's simpleRTK receivers with Mission Planner and QGroundControl to send NTRIP RTK corrections to your autopilot for improved accuracy

Feb 18, 2025

Featured Content

Gremsy & Nokia to Showcase UAV Integration at XPONENTIAL Europe

At XPONENTIAL Europe 2025, Gremsy’s gimbal and payload technology will be paired with Nokia’s connectivity solutions, creating smarter, more efficient UAV systems

Feb 13, 2025
Military Vehicles to Feature Small Tethered UAS from Elistair

Elistair has secured a €3 million contract to equip military vehicles with tethered UAS, enhancing real-time intelligence and operational awareness

Feb 13, 2025
Ellipse Series Enhanced with Latest Firmware Upgrade

The new firmware update from SBG Systems integrates the latest World Magnetic Model (WMM) to improve navigation precision, even for first-generation Ellipse sensors

Feb 11, 2025