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 (6-10) [Germany]
Related Equipment in Defence Insight
More from Digital Battlespace
-
![Australia looks towards space with force restructure, investment and training]()
Australia looks towards space with force restructure, investment and training
Australia is looking to improve its presence in space with a focus on communications and creating a dedicated segment of its defence forces committed to the domain.
-
![EID to unveil new vehicle communication system at DSEI]()
EID to unveil new vehicle communication system at DSEI
The Portuguese company’s naval communications system is in service across more than a dozen countries. It has turned to its home nation for support in developing a new vehicle based C2 system.
-
![Chess Dynamics successfully demonstrates Vision4ce AI-driven tracker]()
Chess Dynamics successfully demonstrates Vision4ce AI-driven tracker
The Vision4ce Deep Embedded Feature Tracking (DEFT) technology software is designed to process video and images by blending traditional computer vision with artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms to present actionable information from complex environments.
-
![Wave Relay devices cleared for security use on commercial systems in industry trend]()
Wave Relay devices cleared for security use on commercial systems in industry trend
Persistent Systems has been cleared by National Security Agency (NSA) to transmit sensitive data on commercial networks. The devices are added to the NSA’s Commercial Solutions for Classified (CSfC) component list which also includes other companies’ products providing the same security.
-
![UK teases cyber spending boost in Strategic Defence Review ahead of “imminent” release]()
UK teases cyber spending boost in Strategic Defence Review ahead of “imminent” release
The release of the UK’s Strategic Defence Review (SDR) has been long promised as mid-year. It is possible it could be as early as 2 June although the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) continues to play its cards close to its chest.
-
![Intelsat emphasises SATCOM resilience for SOF in contested domains (video)]()
Intelsat emphasises SATCOM resilience for SOF in contested domains (video)
Intelsat outlines how its multi-orbit SATCOM architecture is enhancing connectivity and resilience for special operations forces operating in degraded and contested environments.
