• Heron RPA A45-253 out on the hardstand at dawn at the Woomera Test Range during pre-deployment training for personnel deploying to the Heron Detachment at Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan in 2013. Credit: Defence
    Heron RPA A45-253 out on the hardstand at dawn at the Woomera Test Range during pre-deployment training for personnel deploying to the Heron Detachment at Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan in 2013. Credit: Defence
  • IAI's HeronTP on display at this year's Avalon International Airshow. Credit: ADM Nigel Pittaway
    IAI's HeronTP on display at this year's Avalon International Airshow. Credit: ADM Nigel Pittaway
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Heron lease not renewed

13 July 2017
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Katherine Ziesing | Canberra

ADM recently learned that the Heron lease for two Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) and associated ground stations will not be renewed.

This was foreshadowed in the Budget papers this year as no flying hour forecasts were made beyond 2017.

Defence provided the following statement in response to questions about the future of the Medium Altitude Long Endurance Unmanned Aircraft System (MALE UAS) capability for the ADF.

“The Heron UAS was initially leased to fill an urgent capability requirement in the Middle East to support land force operations in Afghanistan. When Australian land forces withdrew from Afghanistan, two of the Heron UAS were returned to Australia in preparation for the purchase of an armed MALE UAS.

 

An RFI to IAI would not be out of the question to get an idea of capability, cost and schedule for the Heron TP

 

“The Heron is leased from MacDonald, Dettwiler and Associates Ltd. The lease was negotiated to expire in 2017. Defence does not have a requirement to extend the lease because the Heron is a legacy UAS. It cannot provide experience in the more complex aspects of UAS operations.”

This might come as news to Heron operators around the globe who perhaps do not share this view. They include Azerbaijan, Brazil, Canada, Ecuador, Germany, India, Israel, Morocco, Singapore, Republic of Korea, Turkey and the US.

“Heron was flown by Defence Remote Pilots,” the statement continued. “All Heron Remote Pilots were drawn from the broad pool of pilots within Defence. The primary Heron Electro Optic/Infra-Red sensor is operated by the Heron Sensor Operator.  Approximately 75 Sensor Operators trained and operated Heron from 2009 to 2017.

“These 150 ADF personnel represent a significant experience base within Defence to assist in developing any future Air Force UAS capability. The amount of flying hours under the MDA lease for the Defence Heron life time was, 27,849.6 hours at 97.4 per cent readiness and 96.36 per cent reliability. For deployed [Afghanistan] operations (Jan 2010 to Nov 2014), 27,139.9 hours. For Australian operations (since April 2015), 709.7 hours.”

As ADM has also previously reported, the RAAF has had personnel operating with a USAF MQ-9 Reaper squadron since January 2015. Five RAAF personnel are embedded with the USAF's 432nd Operations Group, which flies armed MQ-9s across both Iraq and Syria in support of coalition operations.

“The 432nd Operations Group operates the MQ-9, flying in the Middle East from Creech Air Force Base, Nevada,” said a Defence spokesperson. “Four of the RAAF personnel attached to the USAF are performing operational duties with their parent unit as MQ-9 pilots and sensor operators.”

IAI's HeronTP on display at this year's Avalon International Airshow. Credit: ADM Nigel Pittaway

IAI's HeronTP on display at this year's Avalon International Airshow. Credit: ADM Nigel Pittaway

So where does this leave the ADF’s MALE UAS capability until Air 7003 comes online in the early 2020’s, in another three to five years? In limbo it seems. With no assets in the air or on the ground, the training pipeline is limited to less than a dozen people with the USAF on Reaper.

“Air Force has taken steps to retain and further develop MALE UAS knowledge and experience, including embedding RAAF personnel in the US Air Force flying the MQ-9 Reaper,” a statement from Defence said. “These personnel will form the core of the future ADF capability to be delivered by Air 7003.”

While the Defence Integrated Investment Program (DIIP) lists the capability as one that is open to a potential competition, the assumption around Canberra is that an FMS case for the General Atomics MQ-9 Reaper is all but signed.

Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) has been trying to make its case for said competition with their Heron TP, the armed variant of the Heron. Though the two UAS share the same name, the resemblance ends there. The TP variant is significantly larger (a little over five tonnes versus the original Heron at one tonne), can carry a greater payload, has greater endurance, and of course can be armed.

ADM understands the Air 7003 program timeline has also been accelerated; it is now due to go to the Investment Committee next month rather than later in the year as previously thought.

ADM Comment: At first glance, the argument for an FMS case for the Reaper is a ‘no brainer’. The RAAF clearly wants to have the same capability as their US allies and have structured training efforts around the platform. But that doesn't mean a competition for the capability isn't going to happen. Indeed, even an RFI to IAI would not be out of the question to get an idea of capability, cost and schedule for the Heron TP. These figures at the very least could add some competitive pressure to the FMS case, as with Romeos vs NH90.

This would also give both players a chance to outline their Australian Industry Capability (AIC) credentials, an often-overlooked element in FMS case situations. Given the current climate, when it comes to AIC even a basic RFI comparison between FMS and IAI would make sense.

Disclaimer: The author recently visited the Israeli Defence Force’s Heron TP Squadron as a guest of IAI.

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