Successful first campaign of flight tests for Patroller long-endurance surveillance UAV

Sagem (Safran group) and Stemme have successfully carried out the first campaign of flight tests for the Patroller long-endurance surveillance UAV system, scheduled to be qualified in 2010.

The campaign, which took place from June 10 to June 30, 2009, in Kemijarvi (Finland), totalled 8 flights, including several endurance ones. A flight longer than 10 hours brought it to an end.

The campaign demonstrated the platform’s entire range of performances, and in particular its capability to carry out long duration missions. Takeoff, flight control, automatic landing and operation of the image-intelligence payload were also demonstrated.

Patroller draws on Sagem’s skills in operational UAV systems and Stemme’s in high-performance light aircraft. With excellent cost efficiency, it has heightened performance: 30 hours autonomy, operational altitude of 25 000ft, maximum speed of 300 km/h.

Patroller is modular with tried and tested components, including an image chain based on Sagem’s Euroflir 410 gyrostabilized optronic observation system and a Synthetic Aperture Radar pod from OHB. Down the line it will be able to carry other payloads (ie, air relays and maritime radars).

As a new dual-UAV system, Patroller is particularly adapted to long-endurance defense and security surveillance missions.

Launched from an airstrip, it is interoperable with Sagem’s SDTI Sperwer tactical UAV system, with which it shares the same ground station and a large part of its avionics.

Its characteristics will allow it to operate in the medium term in civilian airspace to carry out territorial protection, border and coastal surveillance and rescue missions.