Ad MINUSMA:
Airbus Defence and Space and the Federal Office of Bundeswehr Equipment, Information Technology and In-Service Support (BAAINBw) have signed a renewed service contract agreement for Heron 1 unmanned aerial systems (UAS) in operation in Afghanistan and Mali.
In Afghanistan, Heron 1 Services has been extended in March 2020, for the period June 2020 / May 2021. It had successfully logged up more than 46,000 flight hours in over 4,100 operational flights. Also in March this year, the German Air Force passed the milestone of 10 years of Heron 1 operations in Afghanistan, with a first operational flight dating back to 17th March 2010.
Comparably in Mali, Heron 1 services has also been extended for the period August 2020 / July 2021 (with an option for August 2021 / July 2022). It had logged more than 11,500 flight hours in over 1200 operational flights. The system’s first flight in Mali dates back to 1st November 2016 after the first service contract was signed in July 2016.
When adding the Heron 1’s operations for the German Armed Forces in both Afghanistan and Mali, the Air Force’s UAV system has thus chalked up more than 57,500 successful operational flight hours. Both places of deployment are being managed using a joint operator model between the Bundeswehr and industry. The Heron 1’s provision, maintenance and repair of the system is the responsibility of Airbus Defence and Space in Bremen.
Bundeswehr-Drohnen in Mali und Afghanistan