News Review: First Heron UAS handed over to RAAF | ADM Feb 2010

The Heron UAS includes an aircraft, mission payloads, Advanced Ground Control Station (AGCS), spare parts, and ground support equipment and will start operations in early 2010 for one year, with the option to extend for an additional two years.

Defence awarded MDA a contract in mid-2009 under Project Nankeen to supply Heron systems for intelligence, reconnaissance, and surveillance (ISR) operations by the RAAF in support of the ADF in Afghanistan.

The Australian Army currently operates the Boeing InSitu ScanEagle UAV in Afghanistan; prolonged delays in the Army's tactical UAV project, JP129, mean that the ADF is dependent on its coalition partners for higher-level UAV coverage.

The Heron Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) UAS, which will be operated by the RAAF, will significantly increase the force's operational capabilities in a variety of missions.

It can remain airborne for over 30 hours with a cruising altitude of 30,000 feet and an ISR payload of approximately 250kg.

The Heron has a wingspan of 16.6 meters, a takeoff weight of 1,200kg, an operational range of several hundred kilometers, and an automatic takeoff and landing system.

The Canadian and French air forces already operate the Heron in Afghanistan and will soon be joined by the German air force.

The Heron used by France is known as SIDM (Systeme Interimaire de Drone MALE), a collaborative project by IAI and EADS.