Paris Air Show: NATO brokers Greek deal to acquire Safran UAVs
Greece has ordered four Patroller UAVs from Safran via the NATO Support and Procurement Agency. (Photo: Safran)
The Greek Army has chosen Safran Electronics & Defense to modernise its UAV inventory, adding four new Patroller tactical drones to its current Sperwer fleet.
The NATO Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA) was tasked by the Greek government to enter into negotiations with Safran. In February 2023 it became the first tactical UAS to be certified to NATO's STANAG 4671 airworthiness standard.
Based on the Stemme S15 aircraft, Patroller has a small logistic footprint which, according to Safran, reduces operating costs. The aircraft is powered by A 115hp Rotax 914F engine.
Related Articles
Safran demonstrates Patroller surveillance capabilities at OCEAN2020
Greece gets new Israeli Orbiter 3 drones under Spike deal
Paris Air Show: Romania orders first batch of Watchkeeper X drones
The UAS can be operated both manually and autonomously with an LoS range of 200km and a range with SATCOM of 1,000km.
Patroller is typically fitted with a Euroflir 410 EO/IR pod for ground surveillance, combined with a COMINT sensor or synthetic aperture radar detecting moving targets.
The platform can be fitted with a multimode surveillance radar for maritime missions, enabling long-range detection of maritime activity over a large zone.
This version also includes an Automatic Identification System (AIS) to perform ship classification, with final confirmation performed with the Euroflir 410.
In 2016, the French Army selected the Patroller for its Tactical Drone System (SDT) requirement. Safran received a contract worth approximately $341.7 million in April that year to deliver three Patroller systems comprising 14 UAVs and five GCS between 2018 and 2019.
Greece took delivery of a total of 16 Sperwer UAVs.
Related Programmes in Defence Insight
Related Equipment in Defence Insight
More from Air Warfare
-
![Italy moves to procure third batch of 29 AW249 helicopters]()
Italy moves to procure third batch of 29 AW249 helicopters
The €1.22 billion (US$1.41 billion) follow-on order for the additional helicopters will complement the 19 AW249 already ordered by Italy.
-
![Australia starts upgrade programme for P-8A Poseidon fleet]()
Australia starts upgrade programme for P-8A Poseidon fleet
The upgrades will work to strengthen the country’s maritime surveillance and anti-submarine capabilities, with one more aircraft due to be delivered by 2026.
-
![Textron firms up potential bid for US Navy Undergraduate trainer contract]()
Textron firms up potential bid for US Navy Undergraduate trainer contract
The company has said it would assemble its Beechcraft M-346N aircraft at its east Wichita campus with significant investment placed to modernise the hub if it wins the contract.
-
![Airbus to position Eurofighter Typhoon for Portugal’s F-16 replacement requirement]()
Airbus to position Eurofighter Typhoon for Portugal’s F-16 replacement requirement
The MoU with AED Cluster Portugal will see the two organisations work together on studies to create a pitch to replace the country’s current F-16 fleet.
-
![PGZ and Anduril to work on Polish variant of Barracuda-500M missile]()
PGZ and Anduril to work on Polish variant of Barracuda-500M missile
The memorandum of understanding signed also included a wider strategic plan to co-develop autonomous air systems for the Polish Armed Forces.
