Sea Falcon extends ISR reach of German corvettes
V-200B/Sea Falcon UAV pictured flying above the Braunschweig-class corvette Oldenburg. (Photo: UMS Skeldar)
German Navy completes four-year programme to add airborne ISR capability to corvettes.
Swedish manufacturer UMS Skeldar confirmed on 8 November that the German Navy has received three Skeldar V-200B UASs — each comprising two aircraft — for installation aboard Braunschweig-class corvettes.
The V-200B will operate as the Sea Falcon in German Navy service.
German defence procurement agency BAAINBw placed an €70 million ($84 million) order with ESG Elektroniksystem und Logistik in April 2021.
Sea Falcon can operate for up to 5h with a maximum take-off weight of 235kg, a maximum speed of 75kt and a payload of up to 40kg, UMS Skeldar noted.
It can take off and land automatically on the deck of the corvette in up to 20kt of wind speed (Sea State 3 conditions). ‘An integrated sensor transmits real time optical and infrared images to the ground control station,’ the manufacturer added.
ESG is prime contractor on the four-year Reconnaissance and Identification in the Maritime Operational Area (AImEG) project to add an airborne ISR capability for the Braunschweig class.
Under AlmEG, the German Navy signed a contract in August 2018 to become the launch customer for Sea Falcon. Initially, UMS Skeldar was tasked with providing a single UAS.
Related Programmes in Defence Insight
Skeldar V-200B / Sea Falcon (Germany)
K130 Corvettes Batch 2 [Germany]
Related Equipment in Defence Insight
More from Digital Battlespace
-
![Airbus launches final CSO observation satellite for French Armed Forces]()
Airbus launches final CSO observation satellite for French Armed Forces
Airbus was awarded the Composante Spatiale Optique (CSO) contract at the end of 2010. This included an option for a third satellite, which was activated after Germany joined the programme in 2015.
-
![Intelligence advantage: How real-time GEOINT is reshaping military decision-making (Studio)]()
Intelligence advantage: How real-time GEOINT is reshaping military decision-making (Studio)
In today’s contested operational environment, adaptability is key. The new Geospatial-Intelligence as a Service (GEO IaaS) solution from Fujitsu and MAIAR empowers militaries by enabling intelligence advantage, combining advanced technology with human expertise to deliver actionable insights.
-
![Israel sets up new department to boost development of AI and autonomy]()
Israel sets up new department to boost development of AI and autonomy
Israel will continue to develop autonomy for its weapons and platforms as it brings together defence personnel, academia and industry.
-
![Clavister contracted to supply cyber protection for CV90s]()
Clavister contracted to supply cyber protection for CV90s
Clavister CyberArmour, an integrated defence cybersecurity system, will be used on BAE Systems Hägglunds’ CV90 platform in deployments with a Scandinavian country, as well as in an eastern European nation.
-
![Lockheed Martin completes tactical satellite demonstration and prepares for launch]()
Lockheed Martin completes tactical satellite demonstration and prepares for launch
The tactical satellite (TacSat) is an intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) system and will participate in exercises in 2025.
-
![AUSA 2024: General Micro Systems adds four new products to the X9 Spider family]()
AUSA 2024: General Micro Systems adds four new products to the X9 Spider family
The airborne three-domain, the two ground-based and the ¼ ATR OpenVPX-based cross-domain systems were engineered to provide real-time security across multi-domain operations.
