# TALON at Afghanistan: deployment

Canonical ID: `9f86a16f-a264-4de0-b152-f48e7fd00275`

[TALON](/models/qinetiq-talon.md) robots deployed to [Afghanistan](/locations/afghanistan.md) for EOD, reconnaissance, and CBRN detection missions. Used by US forces to search caves and dispose of IEDs. Part of the global war on terror following 9/11.

## Key facts

- **Theatre:** Operation Enduring Freedom

**Trust tier:** Unverified

_Last updated: 2026-08-07_

- **Slug:** qinetiq-talon-afghanistan
- **Status:** ended
- **Model:** [TALON](/models/qinetiq-talon.md) (id: `f47d4ea4-848f-4cb8-b8f6-fc99fa315056`)
- **Category:** [Defense UGV](/defense-ugv)
- **Company:** [QinetiQ](/companies/qinetiq.md) (id: `b40819d1-0a9f-4264-9a57-edc9ecaf2d35`)
- **Location:** [Afghanistan](/locations/afghanistan.md) (id: `ae1c46c5-47f3-4789-8278-798bfa3ce0ce`)
- **Operator:** [QinetiQ](/companies/qinetiq.md) (id: `b40819d1-0a9f-4264-9a57-edc9ecaf2d35`)
- **First seen:** 2001-12-01T00:00:00.000Z

## Verification log (0, append-only)

_No verifications recorded._

## Sources (1)

1. https://www.qinetiq.com/en/what-we-do/research-and-development/autonomous-systems/robotics/robotic-products/talon-medium-sized-tactical-robot

## Common questions

### What is the TALON deployment at Afghanistan?

TALON, built by QinetiQ, is recorded as a deployment at Afghanistan on the DEPLOY registry. QinetiQ operates the deployment directly.

### Who operates TALON at Afghanistan?

QinetiQ, the manufacturer of TALON, operates this deployment directly. This is a maker-deploys-its-own-product arrangement rather than a customer pilot.

### When did the TALON deployment at Afghanistan go live?

The deployment is recorded as starting December 1, 2001 on the DEPLOY registry. Earlier activity may exist but is not yet sourced.

### Is the TALON deployment at Afghanistan still active?

As of the most recent verification on the DEPLOY registry, this deployment is no longer operating at this location.

### Have there been incidents at the TALON deployment at Afghanistan?

No active incidents affecting this deployment are recorded on the DEPLOY registry. Absence of recorded incidents is not a guarantee no incident occurred; DEPLOY records only sourced incidents and suppresses retracted ones.


_API: GET /v1/robots/9f86a16f-a264-4de0-b152-f48e7fd00275 · feeds: GET /v1/feeds?deploymentId=9f86a16f-a264-4de0-b152-f48e7fd00275 · canonical URL: /deployments/qinetiq-talon-afghanistan_