Morocco’s military has taken delivery of 3 Harfang (Heron) unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) from France. The UAVs are a welcome addition to the military and will be instrumental in conducting reconnaissance in Western Sahara.
The aircrafts were ordered in 2014 under a $48 million contract with France’s Dassault, which acted as the intermediary between France and Morocco. The Harfangs were previously used by the French military over Afghanistan, Libya, Niger, and Mali, amongst others.
The Heron-based Harfang is a combat-proven intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition, and reconnaissance (ISTAR) system. It is a medium-altitude, long-endurance that could last up to 20 hours. Additionally, it is equipped with optronic sensors and radar, which ensure that missions can be carried out around the clock in all weather conditions.
