U.S. and Israel Compete for German Drone Contract
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Unmanned systems event 2014 – Israel finds itself in a heated competition over the supply of an advanced unmanned air system (UAS) to Germany.
As reported by I-HLS last week Airbus Defence and Space and Israel aerospace industries (IAI) announced a teaming agreement to continue providing unmanned aerial systems to the German military. The two are proposing a solution to bridge the gap until the arrival of a European-developed drone in 2020. Their offer is based on the Israeli developed Heron TP type MALE UAS and there would be a purchase option as well as continuation of the leasing concept.
iHLS – Israel Homeland Security
The Heron is the major competitor to the U.S made Predator at the moment, and according to European sources the competition will be “fierce” and will include pressure from Washington on the Germans.
The sources said that, Germany will have to decide soon what it is going to do when its contract with the Bundeswehr and Airbus to lease three Israel Aerospace Industries’ (IAI) Heron 1 type MALE UAS expires in 2015 The Heron- 1is being used by the Germans for reconnaissance missions in Afghanistan.
