As part of its path toward a full operational capability, the German Heron TP (GHTP) unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) completed its maiden flight in German airspace on 15 May 2024. The flight was made out of Jagel Air Base in Schleswig-Holstein in the presence of high-ranking representatives from Germany and Israel. Airbus announced the event, describing it as historic and an important step towards full operational capability. The maiden flight marked the start of the six-month test phase of the UAV in German airspace.
According to Airbus, the GHTP was adapted to the specific requirements of the German Ministry of Defence as part of a joint venture between manufacturer Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), the Research and Development Directorate of the Israeli Ministry of Defence and Airbus Defence and Space (Airbus DS). The close co-operation between the joint venture and the Bundeswehr has enabled the development of a UAV that is both highly efficient and operationally ready, as well as offering the Bundeswehr additional capabilities.
The Bundeswehr stated on its website that the GHTP is the first UAV to be operated with a full German traffic licence with worldwide validity. The UAV is also becoming a part of general air traffic for the first time as part of the so-called ‘National and Alliance Defence’ demonstration flight operations from Jagel Air Base. This means that it will fly together with all civilian and military aircraft in controlled airspace over northern Germany. Cross-border flights are also planned once this initial phase has been successfully completed.
Boaz Levy, president and CEO of IAI, was quioted in a company press release as saying, “The deployment of the GHTP in Germany is a milestone for Israel Aerospace Industries and strengthens the company’s position as a leading provider of cutting-edge aerospace and defence solutions on the global stage. This collaboration sets the stage for further innovation and co-operation in addressing the ever-evolving challenges in the defence sector.”
“With the German Heron TP we are building on the success of our close collaboration with Israel Aerospace Industries and the Bundeswehr on the Heron 1,” added Jean-Brice Dumont, head of air power at Airbus DS. “This [UAV] has been critical to the safety of German troops and the population in Afghanistan and Mali, and has also supported humanitarian missions. The Heron TP will continue this tradition and guarantee an unmanned system with outstanding performance and operational readiness that, due to its modularity, can also provide additional capabilities for the Bundeswehr in the future, such as maritime surveillance capabilities.”
The GHTPs are being sourced through a deal, signed in June 2018 between IAI and Airbus DS, to lease and provide maintenance services for the UAVs to the German Federal Ministry of Defence, with Airbus DS acting as the main contractor.
The budget committee of the German Bundestag released the corresponding budget funds on 6 April 2022.
As part of a turnkey solution from Airbus, the GHTP will close a gap in the field of persistent airborne intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR). In addition to the provision and modification of the UAV, the industrial operator model also includes the training of air force personnel, basic operation, maintenance and repair during deployment as well as the provision of flight hours.
The system is equipped with means for optical and imaging radar reconnaissance and offers options for additional signals intelligence capabilities and maritime surveillance. The GHTP is the only UAV in its class to be certified in accordance with STANAG 4671.
According to Germany’s Federal Office of Bundeswehr Equipment, Information Technology and In-Service Support (BAAINBw) in an article in European Security and Technology (ESuT), the GHTP platform can be equipped with payloads such as an electro-optical sensor, a synthetic aperture radar (SAR) or weapons. In addition, various communication devices (such as radio relay and satellite communications) are integrated to guide the UAV and transmit mission data to the aircraft.
The GHTP is powered by a Pratt & Whitney PT6 turboprop engine delivering 880 kW. It can operate at altitudes of up to 12,500 m with an endurance of up to 27 hours.
The Bundeswehr has currently leased five Heron TPs from IAI, which were initially used to train German pilots in Israel. Now that a GHTP has been transferred to Germany and two aircraft have been made available to the Israel Defense Forces (ESuT reported: https://esut.de/2023/10/meldungen/45004/deutschland-stellt-israel-drohnen-und-sanitaetsmaterial-zur-verfuegung/), two UAVs remain in Israel for training. According to information on its website, the Bundeswehr intends to cover its ISR capability gap with a total of six GHTPs by the time the Eurodrone is introduced in 2030. As two UAVs are to remain in Israel permanently for training, three more UAVs will have to be leased. Such an option is apparently provided for in the 2018 contract.
The UAVs are provided for use by IAI and operated by Airbus DS Airborne Solutions (ADAS). The 2018 service agreement stipulates the provision of flight hours for training operations in Israel and up to two operational areas. ADAS is responsible for flight preparation, including take-off, and flight follow-up, starting with landing. In principle, the Bundeswehr pilots take over the GHTP after take-off and hand it back to ADAS before landing.
