Germany to Send Leased Heron-TP Drones to Israel

German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius revealed Germany's intent to transfer two Heron-TP drones, which were previously leased from Israel, back to the nation of their origin.

Pistorius made this announcement during the autumn meeting of NATO defense ministers in Brussels on October 11th and 12th.

Alongside the return of the Heron drones, the Bundeswehr, Germany's armed forces, will be extending additional support in terms of personnel and materials. Pistorius underscored this commitment, emphasizing that Bundeswehr personnel would be dispatched to reinforce the Foreign Office's crisis support team on the ground, particularly to handle critical consular tasks.

Designed by Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), Heron TP is a multi-role, advanced, long range Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) UAS for strategic missions. It is equipped with automatic taxi-takeoff and landing systems (ATOL), satellite communication (SATCOM) for extended range, fully redundant avionics and more.

The Heron TP can perform a variety of strategic missions, including intelligence gathering, surveillance, target acquisition and reconnaissance, using various payloads, with a high level of reliability.

Heron-TP lease

In 2018, Germany's parliamentary budget committee greenlit a €1 billion ($1.2 billion) military lease for Israeli-made Heron-TP drones, extending through 2027.

This deal comprises two contracts: the first, valued at $600 million, involves IAI and Europe's Airbus managing all operational aspects, including support and maintenance. Airbus, on Germany's behalf, entered a $600 million leasing agreement with Israeli weapon manufacturer IAI for five Heron TP drones, with a nine-year contract and options for a three-year extension.

The second contract, directly with the Israeli Defense Ministry, covers training, infrastructure, and logistics. The long-endurance drones will reside in Israel when not in use by Germany. These drones are currently stationed at Israel's Palmahim Air Base.

Ukraine to receive $1.1B German aid

In another demonstration of Germany's international engagement, the country has also decided to provide Ukraine with a comprehensive support package amounting to $1.1 billion. This aid package comprises a range of defense systems, including the delivery of a Patriot air defense system and two IRIS-T surface-to-air systems. Additionally, Germany will supply Ukraine with ten more Leopard 1 A5 main battle tanks, three Gepard anti-aircraft guns, armored trucks, and ambulances. To bolster Ukraine's special forces, a substantial sum of over €20 million will be allocated for specialized equipment and gear.

This latest assistance for Ukraine follows a previous commitment of €400 million in support, announced in September. That earlier package included vital provisions such as ammunition, mine-resistant combat vehicles, and drones. Together, these initiatives underscore Germany's commitment to international cooperation, security, and its dedication to standing alongside its allies in challenging times.