CL289 UAV to be decommissioned after 17 years of operation
The French Army has announced it is retiring its fleet of CL289 reconaissance UAVs later this year.
The CL289 was introduced in 1993 and has been deployed several times: in 1996 in Bosnia on behalf of the Stabilization Force (SFOR) in 1999 and 2001 in Kosovo and in 2008 in Chad under the force of the European Union (the EUFOR).
The drone operates mostly at low altitudes and can obtain infrared images or colour photographs.
The capabilities of the CL289 no longer correspond to current needs of forces engaged on the ground. Moreover, the scheduled flight does not offer the ability to redirect the UAV during flight, not allowing the search for a particularly elusive and very mobile enemy like that in Afghanistan.
The SDTI and DRAC, currently serving in Afghanistan, have better flight range and can designate targets.
Source: French Army
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