Germany's Bundesamt fuer Ausruestung, Informationstechnik und Nutzung der Bundeswehr (BAAINBw) has extended operations of its IAI Heron 1 unmanned aerial systems in Afghanistan and Mali until the middle of 2020. The Heron 1 capability is operated by Airbus Defence & Space Airborne Solutions on behalf of the German government. Under the services model contract, Airbus is responsible for the provision of the Heron 1 system, together with maintenance and repair to meet an agreed availability. The recent extension of the contract, announced in Bremen on December 12, 2018, extends operations in Mali by more than a year. The Luftwaffe has been operating the Heron 1 in both Afghanistan and Mali, beginning in 2010 and 2016 respectively and more than 46,000 operational flying hours have been notched up. The UAS capability is used to support German armed forces contingents in both countries in the detection of improvised explosive devices, convoy and patrol escort, route exploration and supervision and other military support tasks.
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