Dedicated to Maritime Patrol and ASW Missions

The Brazilian Air Force’s (FAB) ‘Orungan’ squadron received its first HERON I UAS in August. Located in Salvador in Bahia state, the squadron is part of the Seventh Aviation Group and is tasked with maritime patrol and ASW duties, using P-3AM ORION aircraft.

Brazil’s initial HERON I operations began last November with a 40min flight of the first aircraft – then part of the Sierra Working Group, created in 2018 to familiarise and train crews in the use of the equipment. As aircraft are being transferred to the ‘Orungan’ squadron, so the Sierra Group has been disbanded. Currently, the FAB operates a total of 15 HERON I platforms, three of which were transferred last year from the Federal Police, which helped the FAB in planning and preparing for their use.

Florencia Lucero Heguy and Santiago Rivas in Buenos Aires for MON