Unseen, Unheard…

ADF UAVs in Afghanistan

Australian media coverage of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), perhaps more provocatively described as ‘drones’, tends to focus on armed US Predators and Reapers ‘neutralising’ Taliban insurgent leadership figures. But that focus ignores and marginalises the work of the Australian UAVs and their operators in providing intelligence and saving lives on the ground in-theatre.

Until recently, Australia operated two models of UAV in-theatre in Afghanistan – the RAAF’s Herons, operated out of Kandahar, and the Army’s Shadow 200, which was, until its deployment wound up in October, operated out of Multi- National Base – Tarin Kot. Both platforms are unarmed, fitted instead with comprehensive sensor packages which are central to their primary mission – providing intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) gathering for forces on the ground, ensuring situational awareness for commanders, special forces and regular troops.