Heron Family

[Ayoshi]

Israel Aerospace Industries

Heron

The HERON is a Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) UAS for strategic and tactical missions

Super Heron

The Super Heron is the new and latest Medium Altitude Long Endurance Unmanned Aircraft System (MALE UAS) made by IAI/Malat. The Super Heron was added as a link between the Heron and the Heron TP UAV systems.

Heron TP

Heron TP is an advanced, multi-purpose MALE UAS with an extended performance envelope and a variety of payloads capability.

The Heron TP was designed as a multi-purpose, multi-system platform to address local and international customers' needs and to perform a variety of strategic missions with a high level of reliability.

[Ayoshi]

Israel Aerospace Industries Ltd. (IAI) (TASE: ARSP.B1) today unveiled its new medium altitude long endurance (MALE) Super Heron UAV at the 2014 Singapore Airshow. The Super Heron has a 17-meter wingspan and a maximum payload weight of 450 kilograms and takeoff weight of 1,450 kilograms. It was developed in secret over years. IAI CEO Joseph Weiss told "Globes" that the company already has potential customers lined up worldwide.

source: (globes.co.il)

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The IAI Super Heron (screen capture: YouTube)

The new medium-altitude, long-endurance surveillance aircraft was presented at the biennial Singapore Airshow under the tagline “The best just got better.

source: (timesofisrael.co)

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Germany begins Heron 1 UAV operations in Mali | IHS Jane's 360 - 09 November 2016

The Bundeswehr announced the flight lasted close to six hours and had shown excellent results, but added that there was still a lot of work to be done before the Heron squadron is fully established in Mali.

The UAV capability is being provided by Airbus DS Airborne Solutions (ADAS), a subsidiary of Airbus Defence and Space, which signed a contract with the German Defence Procurement Agency in July to provide three such UAVs as well as maintenance and overhaul services as part of the Bundeswehr's contribution to the UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA).

The contract covers operations until February 2018, at which point it will be extended or the aircraft withdrawn.

Germany's Heron 1 unit in Mali carried out its first operational flight on 1 November. Source: Bundeswehr

[Ayoshi]

Australia retires Heron 1 UAVs | IHS Jane's 360 - 08 August 2017

The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) announced on 9 August that the medium-altitude long-endurance (MALE) UAV flew its final mission on 23 June, and that 5 Flight is to be officially disbanded at the end of the year.

The Australian Department of Defence (DoD) originally leased four Herons from Canadian firm MacDonald Dettwiler and Associates Ltd (MDA) for operations in Afghanistan, under the auspices of Operation 'Slipper' (three airframes served in-country, with the fourth being retained in Australia for training).

Australia has retired the four Heron 1 UAVs that it originally leased for operations in Afghanistan. Crew skills are to be maintained with US Air Force placements while a replacement is sought under the AIR 7003 requirement. Source: Commonwealth of Australia

[Ayoshi]

Greece to lease Heron UAVs from Israel | Janes - 07 February 2018

Greece will lease seven Heron medium-altitude, long-endurance (MALE) unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) for three years to enhance its intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities in the Aegean Sea, Greek media have reported.

[Ayoshi]

Germany will continue to use Heron 1 UAV in Mali and Afghanistan | Army Recognition - 14 December 2018 18:06

Germany has extended the successful operation of the Heron 1 drones by Airbus DS Airborne Solutions GmbH, a company of Airbus, until mid of 2020. These contracts have been signed with the Federal Office of Bundeswehr Equipment, Information Technology and In-Service Support on December 12th, 2018.

This renewed contract marks the continuation of one of the most successful cooperation’s between the Bundeswehr and Airbus Defence and Space. The contract comprises the provision of all assets and manpower to support the Israeli Heron 1 systems operations in the two countries of deployment. Heron 1, manufactured by the Israeli manufacturer IAI (Israeli Aerospace Industries), is a medium altitude long endurance (MALE) unmanned aerial system (UAS) which can stay airborne above the respective operational area for very long periods and can be operated from unpaved runways under harsh environmental conditions.

Heron 1 Israeli-made medium-altitude long-endurance unmanned aerial vehicle. (Picture source Airbus)

[Ayoshi]

https://www.janes.com/article/91799/deleted-image-shows-singapore-air-force-heron-1-uav-with-new-belly-payload-pod

Deleted image shows Singapore air force Heron 1 UAV with new belly payload pod
09 October 2019

An image published by Singapore-based news agency CNA on 7 October clearly showed an RSAF Heron 1 UAV that has been equipped with a belly mounted bulged pod - housing an undisclosed external sensor payload - being towed at the airbase. The image was quietly removed for unknown reasons by the morning of 8 October and replaced by an image of another RSAF Heron 1 UAV without the belly pod.

According to the Ministry of Defence (MINDEF), the air vehicle is being tasked to perform co-operative lasing with other airborne and ground-based assets to detect, track, and designate multiple moving targets. Real-time intelligence is streamed back to the RSAF's command post at the airbase, which employs artificial intelligence (AI)-driven decision support software called the Automatic Target Detection (ATD) and Target Look Ahead (TLA) systems to enhance targeting accuracy and efficiency of the service's F-15SG and F-16C/D multirole combat aircraft.

A Heron 1 UAV is seen taking off with an underbelly pod housing a maritime surveillance radar. A similar pod has been seen with at least one of the Heron 1 air vehicles deployed by the Republic of Singapore Air Force at Exercise ‘Forging Sabre’ 2019. Source: Israel Aerospace Industries

[Ayoshi]

Singapore Airshow 2020: IAI to unveil the Heron MK II | Air Recognition - 30 January 2020 16:28

Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) will unveil the Heron MK II, a Multi Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV), at the upcoming Singapore Airshow. The Heron MK II is an updated model of the Heron UAV, which is used by the Israeli Air Force and is operational with over 20 other organizations worldwide. Using the most advanced technologies developed by IAI to date, the Heron MK II is a strategic and versatile aircraft capable of carrying diverse payloads.

As a member of the Heron family, the Heron MK II has a significant appeal to Heron customers around the world as it operates under the same operational concepts. The operational concepts are based on the vast knowledge and experience gained by IAI in the field of UAV’s for nearly 50 years of operation, more than 1,800,000 cumulative flight hours, and over 50 operational customers.

Fitted with a Rotax 915 iS engine, the Heron MK II can reach an altitude of 35,000 feet, a maximum speed of 140 knots and can remain in the air for 45 consecutive hours. Due to improved manufacturing technologies, the Heron MK II has a wider and stronger body structure, allowing for quick and easy maintenance without adding to its weight. The Heron MK II enables new configurations, has long-range observation sensors and radars, and can carry a wide range of additional payloads such as: ELINT, COMINT, special and more. The standout feature of the Heron MK II is its ability to perform Standoff Capability, gathering intelligence from tens of kilometers away without crossing borders, thanks to its ability to carry larger and improved sensors. In addition, the Heron MK II has an improved engine and avionics.

(Picture source: IAI )

[Ayoshi]

https://www.shephardmedia.com/news/uv-online/israel-lease-heron-uavs-greece/

Israel to lease Heron UAVs to Greece
6th May 2020 - 10:30 GMT

Israel will lend the Heron system in its maritime configuration over a three-year period, with an option to purchase the system when the agreement expires in 2023.

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The Heron UAV can be equipped with maritime patrol radars and SATCOM to aid maritime patrols, marine and land border protection patrols and SAR missions.