French DGA selects Spy'Ranger UAS

Thales’ Spy’Ranger mini UAS has been selected by the French armed forces, with the company set to supply up to 70 systems to the DGA from 2018. Thales announced the selection on 5 January.

The Spy-Ranger is a mini surveillance and reconnaissance UAS designed to provide troops with tactical day/night observation capabilities at ranges of up to 30km or 2.5 hours. Missions include providing support to a combined arms tactical group manoeuvre or to an offensive reconnaissance mission; providing a cover mechanism, supporting the neutralisation of strong points and contributing to firing manoeuvres by providing a ‘remote airborne eye’ able to adjust shooting rounds on a target.

Each UAS reconnaissance system (SMDR) consists of three mini-UAS a ground segment and the associated technical support. Spy’Ranger is equipped with a gyrostabilized multi-sensor optronic payload to positively identify target zones or objects, and transmits high-definition image streams via a protected tactical data link at high speeds.

The system’s command and control software provides an easy to operate user interface; and the system can be carried in a backpack.

Jean-Pascal Arrou-Vignod, Thales VP in charge of optronics business, said: ‘Developed by Thales in cooperation with French SMEs Aviation Design and Merio in under 13 months, Spy’Ranger will offer French forces a number of innovations that provide real capability gains. Spy’Ranger will therefore markedly contribute to the gathering of frontline intelligence and to the protection of forces in operation.’