Image Gallery 2010
23 November 2010
Heron Reaches Milestone
The Australian Heron Remotely Piloted Vehicle (RPV) detachment arrived in Afghanistan in July 2009 to provide a high resolution intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) capability in support of Australian and Coalition troops.
Heron is a one tonne aircraft capable of medium altitude, long endurance flights. It was selected after a detailed examination of off-the-shelf, low risk ISR systems available to be quickly deployed to Afghanistan.
Heron’s long endurance characteristic enhances the Australian Defence Force’s operational ISR capabilities in Afghanistan, provided by Air Force AP-3C Orions and Army’s Scan Eagle tactical UAV.
Heron uses leading edge technology to boost force protection by providing ground commanders with live situational awareness.
The Australian detachment has been integrated into the already established Coalition Heron Detachment in Afghanistan. The detachment has been drawn from many parts of Air Force, Army and Navy. It includes pilots, payload operators, intelligence officers, imagery analysts, engineers, administrative and logistics personnel.
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Army pilot, Lieutenant Matt Collingwood, flies an Australian-operated Heron Remotely Piloted Vehicle (RPV) from the ground control station at Kandahar Airfield (KAF) in Afghanistan.
(Date taken: 18 November 2010)
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Imagery Analyst, Leading Seaman Neil Richards, monitors Heron's flight imagery from the intelligence control room at Kandahar Airfield (KAF) in Afghanistan.
(Date taken: 18 November 2010)
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Imagery Analyst, Leading Seaman Neil Richards, monitors Heron's flight imagery from the intelligence control room at Kandahar Airfield (KAF) in Afghanistan.
(Date taken: 18 November 2010)
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An Australian-operated Heron Remotely Piloted Vehicle (RPV) takes off for daily operations from Kandahar Airfield (KAF), in support of Operation Slipper in Afghanistan.
(Date taken: 18 November 2010)
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Flight Sergeant Barry McCrabb observes an Australian-operated Heron Remotely Piloted Vehicle (RPV), as it taxis down the runway for take off, from Kandahar Airfield (KAF) in Afghanistan.
(Date taken: 18 November 2010)
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An Australian-operated Heron Remotely Piloted Vehicle (RPV), taxis to the runway at Kandahar Airfield (KAF) to conduct a mission over Afghanistan.
(Date taken: 18 November 2010)
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An Australian-operated Remotely Piloted Vehicle (RPV), conducts final checks prior to take off from Kandahar Airfield (KAF) in Afghanistan.
(Date taken: 18 November 2010)
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Flight Sergeant Barry McCrabb receives a maintance update from the Canadian MacDonald, Dettwiler and Associates (MDA) contractors, about the Australian-operated Heron Remotely Piloted Vehicle (RPV) at Kandahar Airfield (KAF) in Afghanistan.
(Date taken: 18 November 2010)
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Flight Sergeant Barry McCrabb and Canadian MacDonald, Dettwiler and Associates (MDA) contractors observe another Remotely Piloted Vehicle (RPV) taking off at Kandahar Airfield (KAF) in Afghanistan.
(Date taken: 18 November 2010)
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An Australian-operated Heron Remotely Piloted Vehicle (RPV), conducts final checks prior to take off from Kandahar Airfield (KAF) in Afghanistan.
(Date taken: 18 November 2010)
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Canadian MacDonald, Dettwiler and Associates (MDA) contractors conduct pre-flight checks on an Australian-operated Heron Remotely Piloted Vehicle (RPV), at Kandahar Airfield (KAF) in Afghanistan.
(Date taken: 18 November 2010)
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