Israel Aerospace signs $600 million drone deal with Airbus for Germany
Reuters Staff
2 MIN READ
JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Defense contractor Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) [ISRAI.UL] said on Thursday it signed a $600 million deal with Airbus (AIR.PA) to lease Heron TP drones to Germany’s Defense Ministry.
FILE PHOTO: Logo of Airbus is pictured at the Airbus A380 final assembly line at Airbus headquarters in Blagnac near Toulouse, France, March 21, 2018. REUTERS/Regis Duvignau/File Photo
IAI’s Heron TP is a high altitude, long endurance drone with multiple-payload capabilities. Airbus will manage all aspects of the nine-year agreement, including operational support and maintenance, state-owned IAI said in a statement.
Airbus SE100.48
AIR.PAPARIS STOCK EXCHANGE
+0.30(+0.30%)
The deal had run into resistance last year within Germany’s coalition government because the drones could be armed in the future. The German military currently uses a different model of Heron drones that cannot be armed.
The leasing program is intended as a temporary solution until a European drone is ready for use around 2025.
Shaul Shahar, general manager of IAI’s military aircraft group, said the Heron TP “will provide Germany with unprecedented air superiority”.
https://www.reuters.com/article/uk-...ne-deal-with-airbus-for-germany-idUSKBN1JA0N3
Reuters Staff
2 MIN READ
JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Defense contractor Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) [ISRAI.UL] said on Thursday it signed a $600 million deal with Airbus (AIR.PA) to lease Heron TP drones to Germany’s Defense Ministry.
FILE PHOTO: Logo of Airbus is pictured at the Airbus A380 final assembly line at Airbus headquarters in Blagnac near Toulouse, France, March 21, 2018. REUTERS/Regis Duvignau/File Photo
IAI’s Heron TP is a high altitude, long endurance drone with multiple-payload capabilities. Airbus will manage all aspects of the nine-year agreement, including operational support and maintenance, state-owned IAI said in a statement.
Airbus SE100.48
AIR.PAPARIS STOCK EXCHANGE
+0.30(+0.30%)
- AIR.PA
The deal had run into resistance last year within Germany’s coalition government because the drones could be armed in the future. The German military currently uses a different model of Heron drones that cannot be armed.
The leasing program is intended as a temporary solution until a European drone is ready for use around 2025.
Shaul Shahar, general manager of IAI’s military aircraft group, said the Heron TP “will provide Germany with unprecedented air superiority”.
https://www.reuters.com/article/uk-...ne-deal-with-airbus-for-germany-idUSKBN1JA0N3