Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
France Keeps Harfang UAS Despite Reaper Buy
Harfang UAS will fly with the French Air Force at least through 2017.
A Harfang UAV flies over metropolitan France. The French air force is retaining the Israeli UAV, supplied by Airbus Defence & Space, despite acquiring the Reaper UAS from the US. (Photo: Airbus D&S)
A Harfang UAV flies over metropolitan France. The French air force is retaining the Israeli UAV, supplied by Airbus Defence & Space, despite acquiring the Reaper UAS from the US. (Photo: Airbus D&S)

Despite recently acquiring the GA-ASI Reaper UAS from the U.S., the French air force has extended the service of its predecessor UAS, the Harfang, until at least the end of 2017. The Harfang UAS consists of IAI Heron 1 UAVs that are equipped with a communications and control system designed by Airbus Defence & Space (previously EADS Cassidian) in France. The French defense procurement agency, DGA, has recently signed contracts with main contractor Airbus D&S, and with IAI, for the upgrade and continued maintenance of the Harfang system.

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