Indo-Pacific 2022: Schiebel nabs pole position for expedited UAV contract
Schiebel’s S-100 Camcopter has been selected to proceed as preferred choice for Project Sea 129 Phase 5 Block 1 of the Royal Australian Navy. (ADF)
To speed up acquisition, Australia has selected the Austrian-designed Camcopter for a naval UAV requirement.
Australia has selected a Raytheon Australia-led solution for a single-source acquisition of S-100 Camcopters for Project Sea 129 Phase 5 Block 1, a programme that seeks shipborne UAVs for the Royal Australian Navy (RAN).
In a statement released by Schiebel on 4 May, the Austria-based company welcomed Canberra’s decision to ‘speed up the provision of its UAS capability’.
Australian officialdom calls it progressive industry engagement, but the sudden decision came as a surprise to both Raytheon and Scheibel. Raytheon Australia now has till August to submit its best offer, with a contract expected early in 2023.
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