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Frontex selects Airbus and Heron for maritime surveillance

Luxembourg, 20 October 2020. – The European Border and Coast Guard Agency Frontex contracted Airbus and Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) to operate a long-endurance maritime aerial surveillance system for the Mediterranean Sea, Airbus announced.

The service includes the provision of a Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS) platform and all necessary system and operational support, Airbus said.

The service will be delivered in Greece and possibly Italy and Malta, Airbus said. Airbus and IAI will provide the service for pre-planned assignments as well as for ad-hoc calls.

The maritime Heron RPAS from IAI serves a range of customers worldwide and is a part of the Heron product range which accumulates over 450,000 flight hours, day and night missions under all weather conditions, the announcement said.

The system is capable of flying more than 24 hours in full operational configuration and creates a comprehensive, real time, naval picture of the surveilled geographical areas.

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