EADS Harfang

Medium Altitude, Long Endurance (MALE) Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV)

France | 2008

"Based on the Israeli Heron, the French EADS Harfang UAV have already seen considerable service over Afghanistan, Libya and Mali."

Image copyright www.MilitaryFactory.com; No Reproduction Permitted.

Power & Performance
Those special qualities that separate one aircraft design from another. Performance specifications presented assume optimal operating conditions for the EADS Harfang Medium Altitude, Long Endurance (MALE) Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV).

1 x Rotax 914F turbocharged engine developing 115 horsepower.
Propulsion

129 mph
207 kph | 112 kts
Max Speed

24,934 ft
7,600 m | 5 miles
Service Ceiling

621 miles
1,000 km | 540 nm
Operational Range

Structure
The nose-to-tail, wingtip-to-wingtip physical qualities of the EADS Harfang Medium Altitude, Long Endurance (MALE) Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV).

1
(MANNED)
Crew

30.5 ft
9.30 m
O/A Length

54.5 ft
(16.60 m)
O/A Width

1,455 lb
(660 kg)
Empty Weight

2,756 lb
(1,250 kg)
MTOW

Armament
Available supported armament and special-mission equipment featured in the design of the EADS Harfang Medium Altitude, Long Endurance (MALE) Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) .

None. Payload made primarily of sensors, optics and communications equipment.

Variants
Notable series variants as part of the EADS Harfang family line.

Eagle 0 - Base Prototype Designation

Eagle 1 - Initial production model designation

Eagle MPR - Navalized variant of Eagle 1

Eagle 2 - Enlarged version of the Eagle 1 model with American Pratt & Whitney PT6 turbopropeller arrangement.

Harfang - Alternative designation

Authored By: Staff Writer | Last Edited: 06/22/2022 | Content ©www.MilitaryFactory.com | The following text is exclusive to this site; No A.I. was used in the generation of this content.

As with many other European powers, the French have fielded only a limited fleet of UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicles) systems to date with a few indigenous, in-development products still in the works. In 1995, the French Air Force committed to the Israeli-born IAI (Israel Aerospace Industries) RQ-5 "Hunter", a prop-driven, unarmed data-collecting air vehicle also endorsed by the United States military. Finding its services useful, French Air Force interest piqued when IAI unveiled its popular "Heron" during 1999. The Heron went on to stock the inventories of several military powers including Israel, India, Germany, Brazil and Turkey. The French Air Force then selected the Heron as its next UAV commitment and, with help from IAI, developed a customized Heron-based solution that became the EADS-sponsored "Harfang". First flight of the new vehicle was on September 9th, 2006 with an introduction in June of 2008. Only four units were procured in all.

The Harfang is categorized as a "Medium-Altitude, Long-Endurance" (MALE) UAV giving it the necessary altitude and range capabilities required for French Air Force operations. As with other UAVs of this class, the Harfang is a remotely-controlled offering utilizing a Ground Control Station (GCS) driven by an operator. The Harfang features a centralized fuselage nacelle housing avionics, mission payload, engine and fuel while its wheeled undercarriage restrict operations to prepared surfaces such as runways. Unlike American Predator UAVs (and similar), the Harfang is not armed and instead used for the reconnaissance/data-collecting role through specialized equipment fitted to the belly/chin areas. This very useful information garnered is then interpreted by ground commanders. The Harfang has a twin-boom configuration with straight wing appendages, very similar in form and function as the Heron while power is served through a single Rotax 914 F series turbocharged engine driving a two-bladed propeller in a "pusher" configuration at the rear of the fuselage nacelle.

Manufactured by Malat of Israel, the Harfang is managed through EADS in France.

The Harfang's first notable service was in 2007 where it provided security for the Pope's visit to France. It was then deployed in the Afghanistan Theater in support of the French commitment. Harfangs were also in play during the 2011 Libyan Civil War and have been pressed into service most recently with the French military over Mali against Islamic radicals - driving home the need for more capable UAV systems in the French inventory.

It is said that, as of 2013, the French Air Force has moved to procuring the armed General Atomics MQ-9 "Reaper" series of originating in the United States to replace the outgoing fleet of Harfangs. Training of French Reaper pilots began in late 2013 and the first vehicles have already been delivered to French forces. The Harfangs may then, in turn, be sold to the Moroccan Air Force for extended service lives.

Content ©MilitaryFactory.com; No Reproduction Permitted.

Operators
Global customers who have evaluated and/or operated the EADS Harfang. Nations are displayed by flag, each linked to their respective national aircraft listing.

Total Production: 4 Units
Contractor(s): EADS - Netherlands / Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) - Israel

[ France ]

1 / 1

Image copyright www.MilitaryFactory.com; No Reproduction Permitted.

Going Further...
The EADS Harfang Medium Altitude, Long Endurance (MALE) Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) appears in the following collections:

HOME

AVIATION INDEX

AIRCRAFT BY COUNTRY

AIRCRAFT MANUFACTURERS

Disclaimer | Privacy Policy | Cookies

2024 Military Pay Scale Military Ranks of the World U.S. Department of Defense Dictionary Conversion Calculators Military Alphabet Code Military Map Symbols Breakdown U.S. 5-Star Generals List WWII Weapons by Country World War Next

The "Military Factory" name and MilitaryFactory.com logo are registered ® U.S. trademarks protected by all applicable domestic and international intellectual property laws. All written content, illustrations, and photography are unique to this website (unless where indicated) and not for reuse/reproduction in any form. Material presented throughout this website is for historical and entertainment value only and should not to be construed as usable for hardware restoration, maintenance, or general operation. We do not sell any of the items showcased on this site. Please direct all other inquiries to militaryfactory AT gmail.com. No A.I. was used in the generation of this content.

Part of a network of sites that includes GlobalFirepower, a data-driven property used in ranking the top military powers of the world, WDMMA.org (World Directory of Modern Military Aircraft), WDMMW.org (World Directory of Modern Military Warships), SR71blackbird.org, detailing the history of the world's most iconic spyplane, and MilitaryRibbons.info, cataloguing military medals and ribbons. Special Interest: RailRoad Junction, the locomotive encyclopedia.

©2024 www.MilitaryFactory.com • All Rights Reserved • Content ©2003-2024 (21yrs)