'

Photos: Customs' unmanned border spy plane

3 of 7

  • The Heron spy plane, or unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), was sent to Weipa, Queensland in a standard freight container, from which it is being removed in this shot.

    Credit: Australian Customs Service

    Caption by: Suzanne Tindal

  • The lightweight carbon composite frame means the team can assemble the aircraft without a crane. Here, the wings are about to be bolted to the body.

    Credit: Australian Customs Service

    Caption by: Suzanne Tindal

  • In one piece, the UAV lifts off.

    Credit: Australian Customs Service

    Caption by: Suzanne Tindal

  • The satellite communications unit is housed in the mushroom-like form on the top, with the pot belly underneath containing the radar. Communications gear is kept in the nose.

    Credit: Australian Customs Service

    Caption by: Suzanne Tindal

  • The aircraft sends its footage and radar information to the command centre in Weipa, where the aircraft is controlled from. It is a temporary structure, having also been transported in a container.

    Credit: Australian Customs Service

    Caption by: Suzanne Tindal

  • The UAV is able to identify the size of ships using its radar. For ships over 300 gross tonnes, it picks up other information using their automatic identification system, which vessels of that size have to operate. Its speed can get as low as 65 knots, allowing it to get close shots of ships and their crew.

    Credit: Australian Customs Service

    Caption by: Suzanne Tindal

  • The eight-metre long UAV is a Heron operated by Israel Aerospace Industries.

    Credit: Australian Customs Service

    Caption by: Suzanne Tindal

3 of 7

In one piece, the UAV lifts off.

Credit: Australian Customs Service

Caption by: Suzanne Tindal

3 of 7

Related Topics:

Australia NBN Telcos CXO Innovation
Add Your Comment
Add Your Comment

Related Galleries

    • 1 of 3

  • One Laptop per Child reaches 20K devices in Aussie schools

    Not-for-profit organisation OLPC Australia's new program, One Education, has now distributed 20,000 computing devices to schools throughout Australia, with a celebration held ...

  • CeBIT 2012 opens: photos

    Business-technology exhibition CeBIT 2012 kicked off today, bringing together a who's who of technology players. Many exhibitors appeared to be playing it safe, with booth babes ...

  • The latest in emergency tech: pics

    The Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials Australasia conference gives vendors a chance to show off the latest and greatest tech for keeping the public safe and ...

  • NICTA's glimpse of tomorrow's tech: pics

    National ICT Australia (NICTA) has thrown its doors open for the seventh time in as many years, inviting all to see what's next in cutting-edge technology and also to open the Digital ...