The Federal Police in the Parana district in Brazil have recently begun to operate a Heron-1 supplied by Israel Aerospace Industries.
The Heron will perform missions in the San Miguel de Iguacu area as part of the overall effort to fight drug trafficking. The Brazilian police say that by 2014, four bases in Brazil will be equipped with UAS.
The Heron was demonstrated in Brazil for the first time in 2009. The demonstration took place under harsh conditions in one of the most difficult areas of Brazil to fly in – the state of Parana, and the region of San Miguel de Iguacu.
Following a series of tests, the Brazilian police decided that the Heron system was best suited to what the police wanted: relaying data and intelligence in real time, carrying a number of sensors simultaneously, and employing satellite communications and Automatic Take-off and Landing (ATOL).
The police team emphasised that the Heron system can successfully complete missions under difficult climate and terrain conditions, and has more advanced flight and loitering capabilities than those offered by other UAS.
Source: Flight Global