The Heron drone is identified as a product from Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) which is selling well in the export market. There are at least 15 countries that operate various Heron variants, including Singapore.
However, what is unique is that the Israeli Armed Forces (IDF) only operates one Heron unit. Against the background of the urgent situation to respond to the Hamas attack on October 7, there is a need for Israel for 'ready-to-use' Heron drones, which in fact have Heron 'stock' located abroad.
Quoted from reuters.com, it is said that the Israeli Air Force is seeking 'approval from Germany' to fight the Hamas militia with Heron drones.
The IDF will reportedly deploy Heron TP drones which were previously leased to Germany, after obtaining approval from German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, who supports the Israeli government in the war against Hamas.
Defense sources told German media outlet der Spiegel that Berlin had given Israel the green light to use two Heron TP combat drones in its attacks on the Palestinian group Hamas.
German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius agreed to Israel's request to use the drones on October 11, 2023. He also noted that 16 German trainee pilots would return home due to Hamas attacks. Germany has leased five Heron TP drones approved by Israeli defense contractor IAI. At least two German-leased Heron units are still in Israel for drone pilot training.
Manufacturer IAI describes the Heron TP as a “multi-role, advanced, long-range Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) for strategic missions.” This drone is equipped with autonomous taxi-takeoff and landing systems (ATOL) and SATCOM (satellite communications) for long-range communications, and fully redundant avionics.
The Heron TP was created as a multirole drone capable of carrying out a variety of strategic missions, including target acquisition, reconnaissance, intelligence gathering and surveillance, using a variety of payloads. With drone warfare on the rise, Israel may consider using drones to spy on and attack Hamas in the densely populated enclave of Gaza.
Germany's agreement comes after strong military ties were forged by both sides. Germany is currently in the process of purchasing the Arrow-3 air defense system from Israel.
Germany Loves the Heron TP Drone
The German Bundestag (armed forces) leased five Israeli Heron TP drones in 2018, and former Defense Minister Von Der Leyen said that the Heron TPs could provide images with better video resolution and fly long distances, allowing for better security for soldiers. German. And only in April 2022, Germany decided to arm the Heron TP they rented.
Reeling from Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Germany also announced in April 2022 that it was purchasing 140 Heron TP armed drones from Israel. The purchase marks the first time the country has acquired an armed drone after years of debate. Until this deal is signed, Germany is allowed to deploy unarmed surveillance drones, unlike other European countries.
At the time of the big announcement, it was noted that the drone would be handed over to the German military in just two years. According to the plans of both parties, 60 drones will be intended for training, while the remaining 80 will be used for operational deployment.
The total order amount for Heron TP is estimated at US$166 million. The drones must be delivered within two years. The German defense ministry said last year that the drones would “contribute to the protection of German soldiers on missions abroad.”
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