Primoco One 150 UAV Nears NATO STANAG Certification for Export.

Czech drone manufacturer, Primoco UAV, has made significant progress towards achieving certification under the internationally applicable NATO STANAG 4703 standard. A series of tests conducted at the Institute of Aeronautical Engineering of the Czech Technical University have been successfully completed, proving the mechanical parameters of the aircraft and the operational safety of its structure. 
Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link

Czech Primoco One 150 Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (Picture source: Army Recognition)

This is a world first for an unmanned machine. Until now, only manned aircraft had undergone full-scale testing. "Although the airframe of the One 150M has undergone only a few minor modifications compared to the original design, tests have shown that it achieves even greater durability compared to manned aviation designs," says Ladislav Semetkovský, CEO of Primoco UAV.

Structural tests are one of the most important areas of aircraft type certification, consisting of hundreds of different tests. Equally important was the engine performance testing that the One 150M successfully underwent at the end of last year. "From the very first plans and prototypes, we have approached the development of our own Czech UAVs responsibly, professionally, and with the vision to be among the best. This philosophy is now favorably reflected in the success of our extensive certification tests. With the majority of the certification process completed, we expect to receive our type certificate by the end of 2024," adds Semetkovský.

Certification according to STANAG 4703, once completed, will be evidenced by the issuance of a type certificate. This will allow the aircraft to be exported to any NATO member country without the need to conduct type tests for each market separately. Primoco UAV will thus be the first manufacturer in the world to provide customers in the unmanned segment with the level of certification they are accustomed to when purchasing manned aircraft. This will further strengthen its position among the leading global suppliers of medium-category UAVs with a take-off weight of up to 150 kilograms.

The Primoco One 150, originally designed for surveillance and reconnaissance missions, proved its effectiveness during its first military application flight test in September 2020. Equipped with military communication systems and an electro-optical reconnaissance system, including an L3Harris radio station and ANW2C data links from Persistent Systems, this mid-sized drone is a key asset on the battlefield.

In addition to its military capabilities, the One 150 features a fully composite structure and fixed tricycle-style landing gear. Powered by a four-stroke, four-cylinder, fuel-injected piston engine, it has a maximum takeoff weight of 150 kg and can carry a payload of up to 30 kg. Capable of staying in flight for up to 15 hours, it has an operational range of up to 2,000 km, characteristics that make it ideal for a wide range of operations, both civil and military.