Germany Plans to Buy Israeli Heron TP Drones

The German Air Force plans to acquire additional Israeli-made Heron TP drones, Hartpunkt reported.

A proposal to purchase three drones, valued at €25 million, is being prepared for submission to the Bundestag.

If approved, the acquisition would bring Germany’s fleet of Heron TP drones to eight units, including five previously operated under an operational lease agreement.

Under the terms of the initial contract with Israel, the leased drones are intended to be purchased for long-term service.

Six of the Herons will be stationed at Jagel Air Base in Schleswig-Holstein, with two more based at Tel Nof Airbase in Israel, where a joint German-Israeli squadron operates a training center for German drone operators.

If parliament approves the deal immediately after the summer recess, deliveries are expected within two years.

The Heron TP has more than 30 hours of endurance and can operate at altitudes of 13 to 14 kilometers, making it difficult to detect by enemy systems.

Germany recently deployed one of the systems as part of the Baltic Sentry mission to protect critical underwater infrastructure in NATO countries.

Equipped with high-resolution cameras, modern sensors, and radar, the Heron TP is particularly effective in maritime surveillance. The new drones are also expected to carry electromagnetic surveillance systems capable of detecting enemy radars and communications, significantly expanding their operational capabilities.

As with the leased drones, Airbus DS Airborne Solutions in Bremen handles maintenance and support for the newly acquired systems.

Earlier this year, the Bundeswehr deployed Heron TP drones over the Baltic Sea as part of Operation Baltic Sentry.