Germany agrees to lease Israeli-made UAS
Germany has agreed a nine year deal worth over half a billion dollars to lease Israeli military reconnaissance UAS capable of carrying missiles, the aircraft's manufacturers said on 14 June.
European aerospace giant Airbus, which signed the $600 million agreement on behalf of the German defence ministry, will maintain and provide operational support for the Heron TP UAS, Israel Aerospace Industries said.
An official from the state-owned Israeli firm, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the deal covered five UAS.
The German military currently uses Israel's Heron 1 (pictured) in Afghanistan and Mali, with the more advanced Heron TP UAS expected to replace earlier models.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on 14 June that the German parliament had approved the deal the previous day following the government's green light.
Netanyahu said at a security conference in Jerusalem: ‘It's a very large deal, and that of course helps our defence industries and I think it helps security in Europe. It's a very, very good piece of news.’
IAI said the deal was pending German federal budgetary approval.
In 2016, then-German Defence Minister Ursula von der Leyen said the intention was to use the Israeli UAS until a similar European model was operational.
Germany had considered buying Predator UAS from the US, but ultimately opted for the Heron TP, which German officials have said could be made available more quickly and would provide a smoother transition between models.
More from Uncrewed Vehicles
-
![Jammer resistant drone designs spark search for countermeasures]()
Jammer resistant drone designs spark search for countermeasures
The Russia-Ukraine conflict has driven another stage of evolution for drones and the counter measures to defend against them.
-
![L3Harris launches Amorphous software for control of uncrewed platforms]()
L3Harris launches Amorphous software for control of uncrewed platforms
The new Amorphous software is a universal controller that would allow a single operator to control a swarm of “thousands” of uncrewed systems, from drones to underwater platforms.
-
![ideaForge unveils new UAVs at Aero India 2025]()
ideaForge unveils new UAVs at Aero India 2025
India UAV supplier ideaForge has launched the Netra 5 and Switch V2 drones at Aero India 2025, boasting of enhanced endurance, AI-driven autonomy and improved operational capabilities.
-
![Shaping the future of defence: What 2025 holds for the global drone market]()
Shaping the future of defence: What 2025 holds for the global drone market
The UAV market is experiencing unprecedented growth, with innovations in technology and battlefield applications driving demand across military sectors. From the battlefields of Ukraine to NATO exercises and beyond, drones are transforming how wars are fought and supported.
-
![Maris-Tech confirms customers signing up for Jupiter Drones codec and AI-powered system]()
Maris-Tech confirms customers signing up for Jupiter Drones codec and AI-powered system
Launched at AUSA in October, the company’s multi-stream video codec is attempting to bring a new lease of life to drone technology through its AI accelerator.
-
![AUSA 2024: Quantum-Systems targets big 2025 with UAS developments]()
AUSA 2024: Quantum-Systems targets big 2025 with UAS developments
Quantum-Systems has been upgrading its UAS family, with new versions of the Vector, Reliant and Twister drones set for release throughout 2025.
