Three stages of French DGA trials successfully completed by Schiebel's Camcopter S-100 UAS
The French DGA has already completed three of the four flight trial phases involving the Schiebel CAMCOPTER S-100 Unmanned VTOL (Vertical Takeoff and Landing) Helicopter capability.
In December 2009 Schiebel signed a contract with the French Direction Générale de l Armement (DGA) for the lease of its unrivalled and in production CAMCOPTER S-100 Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) to assess the advantages of a VTOL UAS and has so far successfully accomplished three of the four experimental trials. Fitted with the Thales Optronics Agile 2 Electro
Optical and Infra Red (EO/IR) sensor, the first trials took place in the military camp of Canjuers in the South of France.
The second phase was carried out in Sissonne near Reims, again on a military range and included the participation in a French Army exercise. The S-100 supported the troops on the ground with great success and received specific acclaim. In the third phase the CAMCOPTER S-100 was tested under very hot and dry conditions.
We are extremely pleased with the success we have achieved so far and very much appreciate the good cooperation and working relationship we have established with the DGA says Mr. Constantin Zahir, Programme Manager for Schiebel.
In the coming weeks, with the continuing support of Thales Aeronautical Systems who are responsible for flight and frequency permits, further trials will be conducted under the contract in a mixture of both land and coastal operations, day and night, by French Army and Navy in France.
Schiebel´s CAMCOPTER S-100 UAS is a proven civil and military capability for a wide range of purposes and does not require any supporting launch or recovery equipment. The S-100 can perform under adverse weather conditions, on land and at sea.
Source: Schiebel
Related Equipment in Defence Insight
More from Uncrewed Vehicles
-
Maris-Tech confirms customers signing up for Jupiter Drones codec and AI-powered system
Launched at AUSA in October, the company’s multi-stream video codec is attempting to bring a new lease of life to drone technology through its AI accelerator.
-
AUSA 2024: Quantum-Systems targets big 2025 with UAS developments
Quantum-Systems has been upgrading its UAS family, with new versions of the Vector, Reliant and Twister drones set for release throughout 2025.
-
US Army accelerates acquisition and field of company-level sUAS
The service has been using a Directed Requirement (DR) approach to speed up the deployment of a Medium Range Reconnaissance capability.
-
AeroVironment to display eVTOL P550 at AUSA 2024
AeroVironment’s portfolio will grow thanks to the eVTOL P550 aimed at battalion-level tactical forces.
-
Australia’s air force aims its UAV fleet northwards
The Royal Australian Air Force is advancing its unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) capabilities across three key programmes as it works with the likes of Boeing and Northrop Grumman to reshape Australia’s defence strategy.
-
FTUAS competitor trials were “very successful”, says US Army official
Prototypes from Griffon Aerospace and Textron Systems recently passed through MOSA conformance trials and flight tests.