Germany Extends Rheinmetall’s UAV Services In Afghanistan

The German Armed Forces in Afghanistan will continue receiving unmanned airborne reconnaissance services from Rheinmetall Airborne Systems GmbH, a joint venture by Cassidian and Rheinmetall. The Federal Office for Defence Technology and Procurement (BWB) has prolonged an existing order to the company to provide the German Armed Forces with Heron 1 ultramodern unmanned reconnaissance aircraft for two more years. The volume of the order prolongation amounts to about 75 million euros for the period from October 2012 to October 2014. Rheinmetall Airborne Systems GmbH will provide continued flight operations as well as the training of additional operational personnel of the German Air Force and the installation of new, more powerful sensor payloads. During flights that sometimes last more than 24 hours, the sensors deliver important information and make a valuable contribution to providing the highest possible protection from threats to soldiers and civil personnel. By January 2012 Cassidian and Rheinmetall had already agreed to operate the former activities of Rheinmetall in the field of UAS in future as a joint GmbH with Cassidian (51% shareholder stake of the company) bearing responsibility for industrial leadership. Rheinmetall is still involved with a 49% stake in the joint company, which started operations on 1 July.