For almost five years the Heron remotely piloted aircraft flew in the skies over Afghanistan collecting intelligence that potentially saved lives on the ground, and the operating unit, No 5 Flight has been recognised for outstanding service with a Metitorious Service Award.

No 5 Flight, with ‘Heron’, provided 24 hour surveillance and reconnaissance as part of operation SLIPPER thereby enhancing the coalition force’s tactical advantage for ground combat operations. However, it is the team behind the aerial vehicle who control its every move that rightly claim the laurels of an elite unit that can now wear their meritorious unit citation with justifiable pride.

Executive Officer, Squadron Leader Simon Longley said that his team has set a historical standard to which future generations can aspire, by successfully establishing an entirely new capability on operational deployment, a feat that took commitment, team work and courage.

He said the dedicated team that worked together over the five-year period knew what they were doing was innovative, ground breaking, and that is was unusual for a new capability to be deployed into a warlike environment early on.

Contingents of 35 personnel were rotated every five months, operating the Heron and providing an eye in the sky for coalition forces on the ground, including Afghan nationals.
SQNLDR Longley spent five months in Afghanistan with 27000 of his “closest mates” at Kandahar airfield in 2012. He said the Heron’s role was primarily Intelligence surveillance reconnaissance, and that one of its main benefits was the ability to stay airborne for 24 hours – unlike manned craft that would have to land for aircrew rest.

SQNLDR Longley said this persistence in the battlefield gave coalition forces a real tactical edge.

“With Heron in flight our forces had access real time information, which allowed us to find any threats and give troops escape routes or where the threats were, so they could respond,” he said.

“The nature of warfare has changed it doesn’t matter how many aircraft you have or how many bombs you have. attrition warfare is over. Now, it’s about gathering information, if you don’t have that you won’t win a war.

“You need to find out where the enemy is amassing forces, where are the safe houses, where are the bombs being made, where they may be digging in a roadside bomb, mark the positions and relay the information.”

SQNLDR Longley said he would look back on his time in with 5 Flight in Afghanistan as one of the most enjoyable in his career.