German Ministry of Defense leases Israel unmanned aerial vehicles for military use. On Wednesday, 13 June 2018 , the German Bundestag has approved a deal to lease Israel drones Heron-TP, able to bear arms. The sum of the transaction amounts to almost one billion euros.
According to the agreement, Germany takes on lease according to one source, seven, and other – five long-range UAV Heron TP, for a period of seven years for use in military missions of the Bundeswehr in Afghanistan and Mali. Also, the price includes training UAV operators, technical support services and operation, which will be carried out on the territory of the Israeli military base “Tel Nof”.
amount of 720 million. dollars will receive the company Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) for rent drones, and 177 million. dollars will receive the Israeli government for the use of Israeli airfields and centers of the German military during training.
The deal between Israel and Germany was agreed back in 2013 year, but because of the Israeli competitor filed an appeal – US company General Atomics, signing was postponed until the court decision, which proved to be supportive for the Israeli company.
AI Eitan (Heron TP) - Israeli multi-purpose UAV, developed by IAI-based IAI Heron. The structure of the onboard equipment includes tracking and detection system in the optical purposes, infrared and radio, satellite navigation. It can be equipped with fire control facilities and strike complexes.
apparatus wingspan makes 26 m. ceiling - 13,7 km. flight duration 36 hours. It reported on the possibility of "hang" in the air at an altitude of 4,5 km above the controlled area and the prospect of equipping flight refueling system. At cruising speed 296 kmh (maximum - 460 kmh) it can theoretically fly 14 800 km. Maximum takeoff weight - 4650 kg. Payload weight can reach 1000 kg.
