Israel Aerospace Industries will supply Heron unmanned aerial vehicles to German forces operating in northern Afghanistan, the Israeli company said.

The drones will enhance intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities for German troops deployed on the ground, and provide them with real-time surveillance data, the company said.

Flight operations are expected to begin in March.

Itzhak Nissan, president and chief executive officer of IAI, said the signing of the contract with the German company Rheinmetall Defence and the German Federal Office of Defense Technology and Procurement presents new marketing opportunities of unmanned aerial vehicles and other airborne systems.

The Heron is Israel's largest surveillance drone. It has a wingspan of 54 feet, can fly for as long as 30 hours at a time at a speed of 140 mph and reach an altitude of 30,000 feet, the company said.