Australia to extend Heron RPA deployment to Afghanistan in 2014

Australian Department of Defence confirmed Wednesday that Australia has extended the Heron Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) deployment to Afghanistan providing high resolution Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) support until July 2014.

The Heron RPA is capable of medium altitude long endurance flights, using multiple sensors simultaneously to provide high resolution ISR capabilities. Heron RPA can conduct operations in excess of 24 hours, with a maximum speed of more than 100 knots ( 180 km/h) and at altitudes of up to 10,000 metres.

Australia has operated two Heron aircraft in Afghanistan since 2010, supporting its operations.

With the end of Australia's presence in Oruzgan Province approaching, Defence Minister David Johnston confirmed that the Heron detachment will shift focus to support coalition operations in Regional Command South during the final period of transition of security responsibility to Afghan National Security Forces and the Afghan elections scheduled for 5 April next year.

He said that the decision to extend the Heron RPA and its associated systems reflects Australia's ongoing commitment to Afghanistan and the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) through 2014.

"It is in line with the previously announced training and specialist contributions the Australian Defence Force (ADF) and the Australian government will make in Afghanistan as our mission moves from Uruzgan to the wider Afghan nation," Johnston said.

According to him, based at Kandahar Air Field, the Heron will provide ISAF's Regional Command South with a highly capable system over the coming months and continue to enhance the ADF's unmanned aerial system capability.

According to the arrangements of the Australian government, Australian military operations in Afghanistan was approaching an end, with Afghan forces taking full responsibility for security in Oruzgan Province on December 3. However, about 400 personnel will remain next year in a variety of roles advising and training Afghan forces in Kabul and Kandahar.

In addition, Chief of Air Force, Air Marshal Geoff Brown emphasized that the Heron has provided Air Force with experience and knowledge essential for the use of unmanned platforms in Air Force's future fleet.

"The Air Force has gained immense experience in the use of unmanned aerial systems during the campaign in Afghanistan. The extension of the Heron deployment until July 2014 will continue this important capability," Brown said.