I-Master-equipped Camcopter S-100 conducts trials

Schiebel has announced that its Camcopter S-100 UAV has conducted flight trials equipped with a Thales I-Master radar system at the Schiebel test facility in Wiener Neustadt, Austria. The flights, which took place on 7 February, successfully proved both sensor performance and the stability of data transfer between radar operator and the airborne I-Master.

I-Master is a Ground Moving Target Indication (GMTI) and Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR), developed to provide the capability for all-weather surveillance, detection and recognition of targets over large areas at long stand-off ranges. I-Master has been designed for easy installation with ‘plug & play’ integration. It weighs 30kg, and has the same footprint as a standard 15’’ EO/IR sensor turret, allowing simple air worthiness and certification.

The Camcopter S-100 Vertical Take-Off and Landing (VTOL) rotary wing UAS is capable of carrying a wide range of sensors for military and civilian applications. Equipped with the I-Master, the system provides high-fidelity imagery for classification and positioning of various targets through 360º and can accurately detect and locate moving targets, from fast moving vehicles to individuals at walking pace. Applications of the system include homeland security operations, border surveillance pipeline security and incident management.

Eddie Awang, vice president of intelligence surveillance & reconnaissance, Thales
UK, said: ‘This trial, conducted in partnership with Schiebel, provided excellent GMTI and SAR results. It shows that I-Master can operate successfully on this VTOL UAV, meeting the specific challenges of unmanned platforms without interference or operational impact.

‘I-Master has again proven its world-leading credentials. It provides the best performance in its class, in a flexible adaptable package, bringing a high-end capability to more customers around the world - fixed wing aircraft and UAVs, helicopters, and now the Schiebel Camcopter S-100. Whether installed alone or to complement electro-optical/infrared sensors, I-Master greatly improves the effectiveness of any surveillance scenario.’

Hans Georg Schiebel, the Schiebel Group’s chairman, added: ‘The I-Master radar integrated easily to Camcopter S-100, proving the flexibility of both the UAV and the radar. With the I-Master installed, the system performed even above our high expectations and provides invaluable surveillance, detection and recognition capability.’