German army (Bundeswehr) could acquire soon medium-altitude, long-endurance (MALE) armed  unmanned air vehicle (UAV) Heron TP (nicknamed Eitan MALE). Heron TP is able to carry air-to-surface missiles. This is the first time that Bundeswehr requests the use of drones that that can be weaponized.

Bundeswehr has requested around €900 million to lease five Heron TP UAVs from Israel over the next nine years. Germany plans  to use that type of drones in Mali and Afghanistan for international missions.

Eitan is to be used for reconnaissance and surveillance missions but can also be armed with air to surface missiles. 

The Heron TP has a maximum payload of 1,000 kg with equipment carried under the fuselage as EO / IR / LRF electro-optical targeting system which incorporates infra-red and daylight cameras providing real-time vision of the battlefield under all lighting conditions. It can be also fitted with laser range finder to provide surveillance, reconnaissance, targeting and distance measurements.