Spy’Ranger family growth reflects appetite for unmanned ISR
Spy’Ball (foreground of picture) was developed by French SME Merio but it is now produced by Thales. (Photo: Jean-Marc Tanguy)
A new optronic ball will fly by the end of the year, and Thales is considering other sensors for Spy’Ranger.
For the time being, the French Army is the only operator of the Spy’Ranger 330 UAS but its big brother, the Spy’Ranger 550, already has an undisclosed export launch customer.
The aircraft was presented at the SOFINS trade show in Bordeaux on 29 June-1 July, indicating that Thales intends to sell it to special forces.
The 5.2m-wingspan Spy Ranger 550 offers mission endurance of 5h and an operational range of 50km. Data from Thales shows that 20 of the UAVs have already been ordered.
Pascal Secretin, product line director for imagers and sensors at Thales Air Systems, claimed ‘we had
Already have an account? Log in
Want to keep reading this article?
Read this Article
Get access to this article with a Free Basic Account
- Original curated content, daily across air, land and naval domains
- 2 free stories per week
- Daily news round-up email service
- Access to all Decisive Edge email newsletters
Unlimited Access
Access to all our premium news as a Premium News 365 Member. Corporate subscriptions available.
- Original curated content, daily across air, land and naval domains
- 14-day free trial (cancel at any time)
- Unlimited access to all published premium news
More from Air Warfare
-
![Italy “in favour” of Saudi Arabia joining GCAP, says PM]()
Italy “in favour” of Saudi Arabia joining GCAP, says PM
Prime Minister Moloni's comment came as Italy and Saudi Arabia signed a swathe of agreements totalling $US10 billion for greater cooperation, including between its defence and aerospace industries.
-
![The Philippines eyes procurement of additional FA-50 jets and upgrades]()
The Philippines eyes procurement of additional FA-50 jets and upgrades
The Philippine Air Force is reportedly finalising terms for the upgrade of 12 and additional procurement of several FA-50 aircraft with KAI, with Embraer’s A-29 Super Tucanos procurement also completed.
-
![Kongsberg’s Joint Strike Missile USAF contract expanded to $208 million]()
Kongsberg’s Joint Strike Missile USAF contract expanded to $208 million
The US$70 million modification to the existing joint strike missile contract has definitised it, covering support, containers and test hardware for the missiles’ use on the USAF’s F-35 aircraft.
-
![Israel to equip F-16I fleet with Elbit self-protection upgrade]()
Israel to equip F-16I fleet with Elbit self-protection upgrade
The $80-million contract for the development and installation of the Advanced Self-Protection Suite on the F-16I further boosts Israeli Air Forces’ (IAF's) fleet survivability.
