Australia has agreed to extend the deployment of two Heron unmanned surveillance aircraft to assist with security for Afghanistan’s national elections in April next year. Defence Minister David Johnston said the 40-member Heron team, based at Kandahar airport, would now stay until next July.
The decision follows a request from the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF).
Australia has operated the two Heron aircraft in Afghanistan since 2010, supporting its operations.
With the end of Australia’s presence in Oruzgan Province approaching, the Heron detachment would now shift focus to supporting coalition and Afghan operations in the lead-up to the national elections scheduled for April 5.
The decision to extend the Heron mission reflected Australia’s ongoing commitment to Afghanistan and ISAF through 2014, Senator Johnston said.
In an update to parliament, the minister said Australian military operations in Afghanistan was approaching an end, with Afghan forces taking full responsibility for security in Oruzgan Province on December 3.
However, about 400 personnel will remain next year in a variety of roles advising and training Afghan forces in Kabul and Kandahar.
Source: Herald Sun