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EADS Harfang

2008 MODERN AIRCRAFT DRONE TECHNOLOGY

History of EADS Hafang

Like many other European powers, France has so far deployed only a limited number of UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle) systems, with some domestic developments still in development. In 1995, the French Air Force committed to producing the Israeli-born IAI (Israel Aerospace Industries) RQ-5 "Hunter," a pillar-powered unarmed data-collecting aircraft backed by the U.S. military. When the IAI launched its popular Heron in 1999, the French Air Force found their service useful, which piqued their interest. The French Air Force then selected the Heron for their next drone engagement, and with the help of the IAI developed a custom Heron-based solution that became the EADS sponsored "Harfang".

The new car made its first flight on September 9, 2006 and in June 2008. Only four were purchased in total.

The Harfang is classified as a Medium Altitude, Long Endurance (MALE) drone, giving it the altitude and range required for French Air Force operations. Like other drones in this class, the Harfang is a remotely operated product using an operator-controlled ground control station (GCS). The Harfang features a centralized fuselage nacelle that houses avionics, mission payloads, engines and fuel, while its wheeled landing gear restricts operations to prepared surfaces such as runways.

Unlike the U.S. Predator drone (and similar drones), the Harfang is not armed, but is used for reconnaissance/data collection missions through specialized equipment attached to the belly/chin area. This very useful information gathered is then interpreted by the ground commander.

The Harfang features a double boom configuration with a straight-wing attachment very similar in form and function to the Heron, while power is powered by a single turbocharged Rotax 914 F-Series engine driving the twin-blade propeller in a "thrust" configuration. The rear of the fuselage cabin.

Harfang is manufactured by Malat in Israel and managed by EADS in France.

Harfang's first prominent department was in 2007, which provided security for the Pope's visit to France. It was then used in the Afghan theater to support French participation.

Harfangs were also deployed during Libya's civil war in 2011 and were most recently used by the French military through Mali against Islamist militants - highlighting the need for more powerful unmanned aerial systems in France's stockpile.

It is said that since 2013, the French Air Force began to purchase the US-origin armed General Atomics MQ-9 "Reaper" series to replace the outgoing Kazakhstan fleet. The training of French Reaper pilots started at the end of 2013 and the first vehicles have been delivered to the French Armed Forces.

The Harfangs could then be sold to the Moroccan Air Force for extended service.