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BAF receives two new UAVs to monitor the border
Drones and sensors cost R$48 million and are the first purchased
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Two aircraft, assigned by Israeli industry, were tested since 2010.
Brazilian Air Force (BAF) received two new UAVs, which became known worldwide as "drones", and will be used to monitor the borders and prevent incidents during big events that will occur in the country in coming years, as the Confederations Cup in 2013, the World Cup in 2014 and Olympics Games in 2016.
The unmanned aerial vehicles (called VANT in Brazil) are the model RQ-450 (Hermes 450) from the Israeli company Elbit and are first purchased by the Air Force to Brazil. The units arrived at the Horus Squadron, located in Santa Maria (RS) it is responsible for operating the aircraft in early February, and are still in boxes.
It is expected that the assembly occurs in the next 15 days and that the drones come into operation in early March.
Since 2010, the FAB already had two units of the Hermes 450 which were lent for testing.
The two new aircraft that arrived are the first to be bought by the military that will be untill 2014 with this four units, according to Col. Donald Gramkow, Horus Squadron commander.
The acquisition agreement signed by Brazil and the company Aeroeletronica (AEL), a subsidiary of Israeli Elbit in Brazil was R$ 48.174 million. The investment included the two aircraft, a ground station, sensors and logistics for the transfer and initial tests.
Different from U.S. drones, which caused controversy in the administration of President Barack Obama due to the attacks that caused the deaths of terrorists in the Middle East, the models acquired by Brazil do not have weapons and will be used for target recognition, monitoring and surveillance.
"The first two aircraft we received in 2010 came for a test drive, to make an assessment. This type of vehicle can not buy on the shelf. We use various operations in the Ministry of Defense to locate clandestine airstrips in the Amazon and also in Rio +20, to monitor the meeting which brought together heads of state worldwide. We saw that the model was compatible and decided to purchase, "said the colonel in an exclusive interview with G1.
UAV flies up to 16 hours straight
The BAF UAVs has operating range of up to 200 miles and can fly at an altitude ranging from 3,048 meters to 4,900 meters. The Hermes can have a maximum takeoff weight of 450 kg and comes to fly for up to 16 hours. The average speed of the model is 120 km / h.
Different from the first two units, which just came accompanied by video cameras and infra-red sensors, drones that BAF bought also came with a component called "imaging radar", used to map the ground through the clouds even when there is no sun or the weather does not allow video images.
The set of UAVs comprises besides the aircraft and sensors, a control station, where a pilot, an Air Force officer, and a sergeant, responsible for visualization of targets and control of images and sensors, coordinate the operation.
"Beyond the cockpit, on the airstrip, we have yet one more external pilot, who can perform the landing in case of a breakdown in controls, and three mechanics. No flight is done without new minimum 7 or 8 people operating the vant every time, "explains Colonel Gramkow.
Source: G1