Euronaval Online 2020: Schiebel Camcopter S-100 drone helicopter can be configured to conduct naval operations.

The Austrian Company Schiebel a leader in the manufacturing of Unmanned Aerial Vehicle, presents the naval version of its Camcopter S-100 fitted payload that can be used to conduct naval operations. On its virtual booth at Euronaval Online, the digital edition of Euronaval 2020, International naval defense and maritime security industry exhibition, Schiebel displays a full range of defense products including drones and mine detection solutions.

Schiebel Camcopter S-100 onboard French Navy amphibious assault ship Dixmude L9015. (Picture source Schiebel)

The Schiebel Camcopter S-100 is a medium-range, medium-endurance, vertical take-off and landing unmanned helicopter fully designed and developed by the Austrian Company Schiebel Corporation. The Camcopter S-100 is in service with more than 20 countries all over the world and used by military, security, and naval forces.

The CAMCOPTER® S-100 features platform and payload growth capabilities – with two payload bays, an auxiliary electronics bay, as well as two side payload hardpoints, and the ability to carry underslung loads. The maximum payload weight is 50 kg (110 lbs). The S-100 is made of titanium and carbon fiber materials, designed to carry multiple payloads simultaneously for up to six hours at a time.

The CAMCOPTER® S-100 is able to carry multiple sensors, enabling customers to gather images with an EO/IR camera, detect and identify electronic signatures with ESM systems and use SAR radar simultaneously in real-time with only one system.

The Camcopter S-100 can be operated in day and night conditions and can carry multiple payloads with a combined weight of up to 50 kg. Due to its minimal logistical footprint and size, it is ideally suited for maritime operations.

Conducting operations in maritime environments are recognized as being inherently dynamic, frequently complex, and commonly unique. Effective and efficient operation of today’s Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR)-systems requires capability that offers more than conventional electro-optical full-motion video sensors Recognizing that small-ship operations also require systems that are able to self-cue, Schiebel’s design philosophy has combined a SAR, a lightweight ESM and an EO/IR sensor into a state-of-the-art sensor suite optimized for the maritime environment that can be mounted on its Camcopter S-100.

The S-100 system has over 30,000 flight hours of experience around the world from land bases and many different classes of ship. The S-100 unmanned aerial system (UAS) consists of one or more remotely piloted aircraft (RPA) and a ground control station (GCS) with associated antennae and interconnections necessary for RPA command and control.

Since November 2019, the Camcopter S-100 is now fully integrated with the French Navy Mistral-class amphibious helicopter carrier Dixmude. The video output from the S-100 was integrated in the onboard combat system. With the Schiebel Camcopter S-100, the helicopter carrier is increasing its Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities.