Schiebel CAMCOPTER S-300 UAS selected for major European defence project

Schiebel CAMCOPTER S-300 UAS Selected For Major European Defence Project
CGI of a Camcopter S-300 with sonobuoy dispensers (Schiebel image)
Schiebel, as part of the SEACURE consortium led by Thales, has been awarded a grant agreement under the European Defence Fund’s call for unmanned anti-submarine and seabed warfare solutions.
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Schiebel press release

The SEACURE (Seabed and anti-submarine warfare capability through unmanned feature for Europe) consortium consists of 35 companies from 13 European countries and aims to progress joint Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) and Seabed Warfare (SBW) with unmanned air, surface and underwater systems protecting critical maritime infrastructure. The focus is on detection, classification, identification and tracking of underwater threats in demanding conditions.

Schiebel’s latest product, the CAMCOPTER S-300, will serve as the dedicated Unmanned Air System (UAS) for this project. With a maximum take-off weight of 700 kg, the S-300 offers an impressive endurance in excess of 24 hours with a camera and Inverse Synthetic Aperture Radar (ISAR) or typically 6 hours with a 250 kg payload. It is the first operational VTOL in its class to achieve these capabilities. The SEACURE project is scheduled to culminate in a large-scale sea trial by 2028.

“We have been working successfully with Thales on various ASW solutions for the S-100 since our first participation at the NATO exercise REPMUS in 2022. Due to its longer endurance and higher payload capacity, the S-300 opens up a multitude of new possibilities for ASW and SBW. The SEACURE project aligns perfectly with our S-300 development roadmap and we’re proud to be part of such a significant project.”

Hans Georg Schiebel, Chairman of the Schiebel Group

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Naval News comments:

The Camcopter S-300, a larger version of the Camcopter S-100, was unveiled/teased by Schiebel at Euronaval 2022. The UAS is 4.8 meters long, 1.9 meter high and 0.9 meter wide. It can fly at a maximum speed of 120 knots (cruising speed 55 knots). Size apart, the true difference compared to the S-100 system is the payload capacity. Indeed the S-300 is able to carry up to 340 Kg (fuel including) and its maximum take-off weight can reach 660 Kg. This is basically three times more compared the S-100 can carry. With a 50 Kg payload, the S-300 can fly up to 24 hours (4 hours with 250 Kg).

Schiebel won, a year ago, a contract for the development and delivery of the Camcopter S-300 VTOL UAV for the ROK Navy.

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