News By:
Nicolas von Kospoth Managing Editor
defence.professionals (defpro.com) GmbH
Despite having been deployed to Afghanistan since 17 May, the German Armed Forces‘ newest reconnaissance asset, the Heron 1 unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) has only had few chances to take a glimpse of the country from above. The is basically due to a minor incident at the end of the unmanned aircraft’s first flight: after having completed a successful flight and landing, the taxiing Heron collided for, so far, undisclosed reasons with a parking C-160 transport aircraft, damaging both aircraft. Since 29 April, the German ISAF troops resumed flight operations with the Heron and carry out initial trials, scheduled to last for several weeks.
As the German Ministry of Defence (MoD) recently explained, portraying the UAV’s current activities in Afghanistan, the trials are to prove whether the system meets the performance requirements and will deepen the operators’ experience of the planned operational procedures. As soon as the trials have been successfully completed, the Heron is to be transferred to its daily intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) duty with the ISAF troops in northern Afghanistan.
The Bundeswehr has leased three Heron 1 systems, including four ground stations, form Israel’s IAI for an initial one-year period with an option for a two-year extension. The Heron’s have been selected as an “interim solution” for Germany’s SAATEG project (imaging surveillance system for the depth of the deployment theatre), for which the Bundeswehr also considered to buy the US MQ-9 Reaper (formally Predator B) of a “domestic” solution by EADS. However, both alternatives were considered too expensive which in consequence led to the leasing of the Israeli unmanned air system (UAS).
What is normal with most major contributors to ISAF is now proudly presented by the German Armed Forces: “The UAS is equipped with state-of-the-art technology such as a high-resolution pivotable infra-red and TV camera. A radar system and satellite controls are intended to be integrated. With the Heron 1, the ISAR troops in northern Afghanistan now have the possibility to receive real-time video and photo material in support of tactical operations.” Depending of the chosen configuration, the sensor package includes a day/night electro-optical payload as well as a synthetic-aperture radar (SAR) payload.
This means that, finally, (or at least as soon as the Herons are ready for daily operations) the German troops will receive what, for years already, is considered an indispensible capability by the US forces: an unmanned, flexible and efficient ISR capability beyond the mini-UAV level. The Heron UAVs have already seen deployment to Afghanistan with the Canadian, Australian and French Armed Forces and the air over Afghanistan is buzzing with a variety of small-sized to large unmanned aircraft of different origin. To put this into perspective: for the purpose of aerial reconnaissance, which will now be complemented by the medium-altitude, long-endurance (MALE) Herons, the German Air Force deployed six Tornado aircraft to Mazar-i-Sharif in April 2007 which do not have the capability to provide visual material in real-time.
Defence experts and soldiers have long asked for better equipment of the deployed troops, including assets that provide an improved reconnaissance capability and close air support (CAS). The latter has so far been provided by US attack aircraft and helicopters and there will certainly not be any change to this situation, as the Bundeswehr will not deploy attack helicopters within the near future. However, the former will receive a significant boost as soon as the Heron systems will be fully operational. In light of the intensifying threat situation in the north, which has recently claimed the lives of seven German soldiers, as well as a planned offensive in the area, the Heron systems will be available in the nick of time to support future operations and perhaps provide an increased situational awareness that may save lives on the ground.
The Herons are controlled by the Advanced Ground Control Station (AGCS) which is deployed in a container loaded onto a truck. The system is being operated within the so-called “crew concept”, including the Air Vehicle Operator (AVO) and the Payload Operator (PO) who operates the optical systems and the sensors. The aircraft operates at altitudes up to 30,000 feet at a speed of up to 200 km/h and can remain airborne for a maximum period of 16 hours, according to the Bundeswehr (24 hours according to Rheinmetall/IAI). This enables it to fly to distant mission areas and to loiter above the area while collecting valuable reconnaissance data or it can track a moving target. It also allows to troops to reconnoitre patrol routes or to minimise the “fog of war” in ambush situations.
To provide and support the deployed systems IAI has teamed with Germany’s Rheinmetall Defence in 2009. Rheinmetall Defence and the German Federal Office of Defense Technology and Procurement (Bundesamt für Wehrtechnik und Beschaffung, BWB) signed a multi-million service provider contract in October 2009 to provide the Bundeswehr ISR capabilities through the deployment of the Heron systems. On that occasion, Heinz Dresia, Member of the Executive Board of Rheinmetall Defence, said: “Rheinmetall’s responsibility for performing the complete package of service, repairs and maintenance for the SAATEG system positions us as a competent full-service supplier of logistic services in the field of aerial reconnaissance systems.” The contract covers 24/7 logistical and maintenance services which are carried out in a maintenance and support centre in the theatre.
