Australian navy selects Camcopter S-100
Schiebel has been awarded a contract by the Royal Australian Navy for the supply of the Camcopter S-100 UAV and three years of follow-on contractor logistics support, the company announced on 6 February.
The company submitted the S-100 for the navy's February 2016 UAS request for tender (RfT). The competition is understood to have included the UMS Skeldar.
The contract with Schiebel was awarded in December 2016 following proposal evaluation and negotiations.
The Camcopter is being acquired under Navy Minor Project (NMP) 1942, which requires a vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) UAV that is capable of covering an area of 400nm² for four hours and at a distance of 60nm from the host vessel.
Hans Georg Schiebel, owner of Schiebel Group, said: 'We feel most honoured by the Royal Australian Navy's decision to purchase our Camcopter S-100 UAS. We are sure that the S-100 will prove to be an effective asset that will set a new benchmark for UAS capability.'
An initial training system is expected to be delivered within six months of the contract announcement, and the S-100 will be used to build experience in operating a VTOL UAV aboard ships ahead of a major acquisition programme (two phases of Joint Project 129).
JP129 will oversee the purchase of one or two types of larger VTOL platforms for operation from the RAN's Future Frigate and, possibly, offshore patrol vessels that will be acquired in coming years.
More from Uncrewed Vehicles
-
![Royal Navy uncrewed aircraft trial marks European first]()
Royal Navy uncrewed aircraft trial marks European first
UK flight test sees largest unmanned aircraft take off from a Royal Navy aircraft carrier.
-
![Dubai Airshow 2023: Chinese AR-2000 large ship-borne UAV makes debut]()
Dubai Airshow 2023: Chinese AR-2000 large ship-borne UAV makes debut
CATIC have displayed its new AR-2000 drone at Dubai Airshow 2023, emphasising ship-based capabilities with PLA already purchasing.
-
![Australian Triton takes to the skies]()
Australian Triton takes to the skies
Australia has ordered four Northrop Grumman MQ-4C Triton UAS which can operate as an uncrewed maritime patrol aircraft (MPA) alongside the country’s in-service Boeing P-8A MPA fleet.
-
![Elistair unveils automated tethered observation UAS]()
Elistair unveils automated tethered observation UAS
The Khronos tethered UAS has been designed to be simple to use and has drawn on Elistair’s experience with hundreds of existing customers.
-
![Saildrone to produce USVs in Australia from 2024]()
Saildrone to produce USVs in Australia from 2024
The use of long-duration Uncrewed Surface Vehicles for maritime surveillance and monitoring has become part of the fleet inventory as navies try to reduce the level of effort required to gather intelligence on areas of interest.
-
![Ocius expands Bluebottle USV capabilities]()
Ocius expands Bluebottle USV capabilities
A growing number of uncrewed systems have been on show at Sydney's Indo-Pacific Maritime exhibition with a select few currently being trialled to see if they can enhance the Royal Australian Navy's surveillance levels.
