The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) is exhibiting an IAI-manufactured Heron unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) at the Avalon 2011 Australian International Airshow and Aerospace & Defense Exposition held from 1-6 March in Geelong, Victoria.

The RAAF operates an Israel Aerospace Industries’ (IAI) Heron UAV under Project NANKEEN, which was made possible thanks to cooperation with Canada’s MacDonald Dettwiler and Associates Ltd. (MDA), as part of NATO forces activities in Afghanistan since the beginning of 2010.

Due to its unique specifications, such as a cruising altitude of 30,000 feet and long endurance of up to 30 hours, the Heron UAV provides the RAAF with essential operational capabilities in various intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions. The 1-ton Heron can carry a variety of different payloads that weigh up to 250 kg.

Australia’s Department of Defense published the following a short time after deployment of the Heron system:” Heron uses leading-edge technology to boost force protection by providing ground commanders with live situational awareness.”

Source and photo: IAI