German pilot remotely controls military drone, which is sent on a test flight at a height of seven kilometers above Jutland. The flight takes place as part of the preparations for the air force to receive its own unmanned aircraft in 2028, which will be used, among other things, for patrolling and surveillance in the airspace over Greenland and in the North Atlantic.
A military surveillance dronewhich is remotely controlled from Germany, flies over Jutland on Tuesday.
This is what the Norwegian Defense Ministry writes on its website.
According to the Norwegian Armed Forces, this is the first test flight in Danish airspace with an unmanned military aircraft of that size.
The plane weighs over five tonnes, is 13 meters long and has a wingspan of 26 metres. It flies at an altitude of seven kilometers – the same airspace as manned aviation.
The “German Heron TP” drone belongs to the German Air Force, the Luftwaffe, and the pilot who controls it is based at a military air station in Schleswig, Germany.
The flight starts over the Danish-German border in Southern Jutland and goes over the eastern part of Jutland to Aalborg.
The drone then flies back to Germany via the western part of Jutland.
According to the Norwegian Defense News, the total flight time is calculated to be approximately two hours.
During the flight, the German pilot is in contact with the air traffic control in Naviair, which is responsible for directing aircraft through Danish airspace.
The Norwegian Transport Agency has approved, according to the Norwegian Armed Forces, that the safety procedures are in order when the military drone must fly out of sight.
– This means that we have checked that there is control over all the procedures that must ensure safe navigation in relation to other aircraft in the airspace – also if you should lose control or the radio connection along the way, says Head of Office at the Swedish Transport Agency Signe Finderup Slot to the Defense website.
The flight takes place as part of the preparations for the air force to receive its own unmanned aircraft of the “General Atomics MQ-9B” type in 2028.
They will operate from Air Station Aalborg under Squadron 729 and will be used, among other things, for patrolling and surveillance in the airspace over Greenland and in the North Atlantic.
Brigade Commander Hans Peter Andersen calls the test flight a milestone.
– The test flight is another important step towards us receiving our own unmanned aircraft in the coming years.
– The construction of Squadron 729 is in full swing, and here, in cooperation with good allies in the Luftwaffe, we will have the opportunity to test flight with unmanned aircraft in Danish airspace for the first time, he says on the website.
RITZAU
