Australian drones' Afghan mission extended Australia will extend the deployment of two surveillance drones to support security in Afghanistan. AUSTRALIA has agreed to extend the deployment of two Heron unmanned surveillance aircraft to assist with security for Afghanistan's national elections in April next year. Defence Minister David Johnston said the 40-member Heron team, based at Kandahar airport, would now stay until next July. The decision follows a request from the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF). Australia has operated the two Heron aircraft in Afghanistan since 2010, supporting its operations. With the end of Australia's presence in Oruzgan Province approaching, the Heron detachment would now shift focus to supporting coalition and Afghan operations in the lead-up to the national elections scheduled for April 5. The decision to extend the Heron mission reflected Australia's ongoing commitment to Afghanistan and ISAF through 2014, Senator Johnston said. In an update to parliament, the minister said Australian military operations in Afghanistan was approaching an end, with Afghan forces taking full responsibility for security in Oruzgan Province on December 3. However, about 400 personnel will remain next year in a variety of roles advising and training Afghan forces in Kabul and Kandahar. Australia had done good work in Oruzgan, despite the loss of 40 soldiers, with 261 wounded, Senator Johnston said. "The truth of the matter is that the ADF's sacrifices and those of the Afghans, the United States and other ISAF partners have bought time for the Afghan security forces to build and field a force able to take full security responsibility for their country," he said. Former Labor defence minister John Faulkner said many challenges remained for those returning from Afghanistan and families who had lost a loved one. "Those sacrifices must never be forgotten and it will remain a great responsibility of this parliament to ensure the welfare of those returning from Afghanistan," he told parliament.