Breaking news
Germany could purchase IAI Heron-TP remotely piloted aircraft.
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World Defense & Security News - Germany
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Germany could purchase IAI Heron-TP remotely piloted aircraft
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The German military is seeking to acquire remotely piloted aircraft (RPA) from Israel, reported today the German newspaper Deutsche Welle, quoting the Cologne-based daily Kölner Stadt-Anzeiger. According to the local medias, the Bundeswehr could procure the Heron-TP RPA, produced by the Israel-based company Israel Aerospace Industries.
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 IAI Heron-TP remotely piloted aircraft(Credit: IAI) |
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The Heron-TP to be probably purchased by Germany will be essentially used for reconnaissance missions, but the German Air Force said that the model could also carry out air strikes.
"The decision by the Bundeswehr to adopt unmanned aircraft into its arsenal was made a year ago, according to the Green Party's Tobias Lindner," said the Kölner Stadt-Anzeiger. According to the Cologne-based newspaper, the Bundeswehr chose the Heron-TP over the General Atomics' Predator RPA. However, this purchase might be only temporary, as Germany is currently working with Italy and France to produce a "Made in Europe" remotely piloted aircraft by 2025. The Heron-TP, also dubbed "Eitan" in Israel, is a reconnaissance remotely piloted aircraft designed by Israel Aerospace Industries' Malat division. The Heron-TP is a medium-altitude, long endurance (MALE) UAV, which can operate at altitudes above commercial air traffic and features i.a. all-weather capability and automatic takeoff and landing (ATOL) systems. It has a maximal range of 7,400 km and a service ceiling of more than 14km. Powered by a sole Pratt & Whitney PT6A-67A engine, the Heron-TP reaches a 370 km/h maximum speed. |
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