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Naval
Forces News - France |
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UAV
integration with naval combat systems: DCNS opens a new chapter in naval
aviation
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Following sea trials conducted from 9-13 December 2013 as part of the
Serval unmanned air systems (UAS) programme, the French defence procurement
agency (DGA) and DCNS have validated the functional integration of an
unmanned air vehicle (UAV) with the combat system of a warship. |
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Following sea trials conducted from 9-13 December 2013 as part of the
Serval unmanned air systems (UAS) programme, the French defence procurement
agency (DGA) and DCNS have validated the functional integration of an
unmanned air vehicle (UAV) with the combat system of a warship.
Picutre: DCNS |
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Launching
and recovering a UAV from a warship presents many complex challenges.
The successful physical and functional integration of a tactical VTOL
(Vertical Take-Off and Landing) UAV on board a surface combatant by
DCNS, with no impact on flight safety, represents a major breakthrough
for naval air forces.
Following sea trials on board the L’Adroit Gowind-class Offshore
Patrol Vessel, the DGA, the French Navy and DCNS validated all functional
blocks between DCNS's Polaris® combat system and the Camcopter®
S100 VTOL UAV developed by Schiebel of Austria. Based on the results
of the trials, the DGA has issued DCNS with a permit to fly for the
Camcopter® S100.
The tests were designed to evaluate the performance of the DIOD-A module,
developed by DCNS and integrated on this occasion with the Polaris®
combat system, for managing UAV payload data (from electro-optical sensors
in this case) in real time. A further aim was to demonstrate that the
interface between the UAS and the ship's combat system has no impact
on flight safety.
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S-100 and L'Adroit OPV
Picture: French Navy |
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The
DIOD-A module met all DGA requirements and now promises to deliver significant
operational benefits to French Navy staff in charge of operating the
combat management system and the VTOL UAV.
The tests were the first of their kind in Europe and the successful
outcome is attributable in large part to effective collaboration between
government technical services, DCNS and its Austrian partner Schiebel.
Full integration of UAV data into the combat management system and the
operational integration of the UAV operator into the CIC (Combat Information
Centre) turn the UAV into a 'telescopic arm' of the ship, extending
its operational capabilities by providing real-time data from the theatre
of operations beyond the range of its onboard sensors. A UAV with an
optronic payload constitutes an offboard sensor platform that can relay
data back to the host ship to identify threats from pirates, for example,
or to monitor fishing vessel inspection operations.
Navies in Europe and around the world are expressing strong interest
in offboard sensor systems. The sea trials have successfully validated
integration of a VTOL UAV with a surface combatant for the first time
in Europe, earning the technology a 'sea-proven' label and enabling
DCNS to propose a complete range of solutions for UAS integration on
board surface combatants. The milestone is also a further illustration
of DCNS's role as a lead systems integrator for naval forces worldwide. |
