VADER completes first African tests
VADER (left of picture) with Rafale. (Photo: French Air and Space Force)
Acclimatisation flights in Djibouti prepare the French airborne ISR platform for its first deployment to Mali.
The first VADER light surveillance and reconnaissance aircraft for the French Air and Space Force completed its first mission from 28 April to 21 May 2021, the French MoD announced on 22 June.
The hot-weather tests in Djibouti ‘made it possible to assess the logistical support and resilience of the equipment in an environment close to its future missions’, the MoD noted.
These ‘future missions’ include deployment to Mali, Shephard recently reported.
VADER (formerly known as ALSR) IS based on the Beechcraft King Air 350 ISR aircraft.
Two were delivered in July 2020 by Sabena Technics and Thales under a contract dating from June 2016. According to Shephard Defence Insight, they are operated by the air force but owned by the French intelligence services.
A third is scheduled for delivery in 2023, and the French Air and Space Force wants eight in all to be in service by 2030.
Related Programmes in Defence Insight
Strategic Intelligence Aircraft [France]
Related Equipment in Defence Insight
More from Air Warfare
-
![Initial flight testing completed of LRASM anti-ship missile on F-35]()
Initial flight testing completed of LRASM anti-ship missile on F-35
The AGM-158C Long Range Anti-Ship Missile (LRASM) is a precision-guided, anti-ship standoff missile based on the Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile-Extended Range (JASSM-ER). It is being developed to meet US requirements and in 2020 the sale was approved to Australia of up to 200 LRASM for an estimated cost of US$990 million.
-
![Aselsan conducts live-fire test of Gözde guidance kit with F-16 aircraft]()
Aselsan conducts live-fire test of Gözde guidance kit with F-16 aircraft
The test is a first for the kit, developed via a partnership between Aselsan and Tübitak SAGE, to hit a high-speed moving target.
-
![UAVs for Ukraine: Europe is willing to spend]()
UAVs for Ukraine: Europe is willing to spend
Despite President Donald Trump’s suspension of military aid to Ukraine, Shephard Defence Insight data suggests that in relation to UAVs, Europe and its non-US NATO allies are more than willing to fill any spending vacuum and are already contributing more than twice as much as the US.
-
![Germany looks to upgrade KEPD 350 missiles and Sweden begins purchase process]()
Germany looks to upgrade KEPD 350 missiles and Sweden begins purchase process
The Taurus KEPD 350 is an air-launched cruise missile developed by Taurus Systems, a joint venture between MBDA Deutschland and Saab Dynamics. The German contract is for maintenance and modernisation of German Air Force missiles.
-
![US Air Force announces mission designation for Anduril and GA-ASI’s CCA prototypes]()
US Air Force announces mission designation for Anduril and GA-ASI’s CCA prototypes
The news follows confirmation from GA-ASI that it will fly its CCA prototype this year and signals the next step in the collaborative combat aircraft programme.
