Heron MK II: A Game-Changer in Unmanned Aerial Systems

Reflecting the latest unmanned aerial systems (UAS) technology, the Heron MK II is the next and most advanced generation of IAI’s Heron UAS family serving air forces, armies, and navies worldwide for over two decades. It preserves the proven legacy of its predecessors while integrating advanced technologies, perfectly tailored to the modern battlefield and evolving challenges. With a new airframe and wings tuned to maximize performance, advanced avionics, and a ground control system, the Heron MK II introduces new mission capabilities, efficiencies, and autonomy standards.

Equipped with a comprehensive payload suite, this Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) UAS supports multiple payloads operating over a broad spectrum. Different payloads onboard enable real-time collection of intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition, and reconnaissance (ISTAR), covering large areas of interest. Dedicated sensors allow the system to perform standoff reconnaissance over long distances or persistent surveillance over a wide area. Additionally, the Heron MK II can carry maritime surveillance radar (MPR), synthetic aperture radar (SAR), electronic surveillance measures (ESM), and communications intelligence (COMINT). The Heron MK II provides a complete, multi-modal intelligence-gathering capability on a single platform by operating numerous sensor payloads simultaneously.

The Heron MK II also incorporates integral wideband satellite communication and fully digital line-of-sight data links, serving multiple payloads simultaneously and allowing the platform an unrestricted operational envelope over long distances, sea, land, and mountainous terrain. Switching between different data links can optimize the mission to become covert, secure, and resilient. In addition to streaming live sensor data to the ground, the Heron MK II also has servers onboard, providing users access to large amounts of raw or processed sensor data collected throughout the mission and stored onboard.

Supporting flexible payload integration with a wide range of Heron family payloads and customer-furnished systems and applications, the Heron MK II conforms to an open architecture, featuring separate flight control and mission management systems. This enables manufacturers and users to maintain optimal upgrade cycles and avionics flexibility throughout the UAS life cycle.

Mission Optimized Platform
The dimensions of the Heron MK II have been increased over its predecessor, extending the fuselage to 9.7 meters and the wingspan to nearly 17 meters, providing a larger space for internal and external payloads, including underwing stores, without degrading performance. The system is certifiable by design for international and military airworthiness standards.

The new powerplant uses an aviation-certified engine that delivers 160 hp, specifically tuned to have a high climb rate and efficient operation at low and high altitudes up to 35,000 ft. The powerful motor also provides sustained power for a maximum air speed of 145 knots and a faster ascent, improving the drone’s rate of climb by more than 50 percent over legacy systems. The maximum takeoff weight (MTOW) has increased to 1,430 kg, including a useful payload of 490 kg. Heron MK II has a mission endurance of up to 45 hours.

Another forte is its ability to endure adverse weather, with deicing systems enabling the aircraft to cross stormy weather it may encounter on its flight over mountains and sea. Special attention is given to protecting the communications, navigation, and flight systems from jamming and spoofing, safeguarding the GPS and datalinks against interference and cyber-attacks. The platform maintains self-awareness throughout the flight, preventing location deception, unauthorized intervention, or hostile takeover of the autonomous platform.

Advanced Ground Segment
The crew uses the Unified Control System (UCS) to control the mission, leveraging the highly automated and intuitive user interface to reduce crew workload and focus on the task rather than fly the platform. This modern mission control center comprises multiple displays, “hands-on stick and throttle” (HOTAS) controls, and a tablet with a touch screen. All sensor feeds are processed, correlated, and fused to deliver a comprehensive, interactive situational picture. Autonomous taxi, takeoff and landing and multiple redundancies for flight and mission-critical systems are fully supported based on proven and robust automation, multiple sensors, and systems.

The modern map-based graphical touch interface reduces complex procedures into a few touches and clicks. This interface enables mission operators to plan and execute complete missions, re-task or modify flight plans, focus on specific areas of interest, or respond to user needs, allowing operators to concentrate on the mission and delegate flight control to the machine.

Since its introduction in 1994, the Heron family has been operational, serving over 22 customers worldwide and accumulating more than 650,000 flight hours. Heron MK II takes the system to new mission capabilities and performance levels, setting a new benchmark for advanced MALE UAS.