Schiebel Camcopter S-100 Explained

The Schiebel Camcopter S-100 is an Austrian unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) using a rotorcraft design.

Design and development

Produced by the Austrian company Schiebel, it was developed from 2003 to 2005. With a maximum take-off weight (MTOW) of 200kg (400lb), its endurance is 6 hours (extendable to over 10 hours with optional external AVGAS fuel tanks fitted[1]). It has a maximum speed of 220kph and a ceiling of 5500m (18,000feet). It is powered by a 55hp Diamond engine and can carry various payloads, such as electro-optics and infrared sensors.The primary radio link between ground station(s) occupy the 5030‐5091 MHz band. A secondary link in the UHF band would operate within 433.2125 MHz to 434.4625 MHz.

On 12 March 2012 Schiebel announced that it successfully tested a company-developed heavy-fuel engine interchangeable with the standard Diamond engine. This heavy-fuel engine allows for the use of JP-5, Jet A-1 or JP-8 jet fuels. These fuels, which are standard on marine vessels, are safer to store and handle than gasoline.[2]

On 7 February 2013, Schiebel flight tested a Thales Group I-Master surveillance radar system on the Camcopter at its Wiener Neustadt, Austria, facility. The I-Master system, weighing 300NaN0, provides ground moving target indication and synthetic-aperture radar operations.[3]

International customers

The launch customer for the S-100 was the UAE Army, which ordered 40 aircraft with an option for 40 more. The aircraft was ordered by three more undisclosed nations, with total orders reaching 200.

The Camcopter underwent sea trials on the Indian Navy's during October 2007.[4] Flight testing occurred aboard a Pakistan Navy Type 21 frigate in the Arabian Sea on 16 March 2008,[5] with further naval testing on 14 April 2008 on the Spanish Guardia Civil vessel Rio Miño off Gran Canaria.[6]

The German Navy conducted testing during three weeks in August and September 2008 on the s Braunschweig and Magdeburg, respectively. More than 130 takeoffs were conducted, and the UAV maintained unaided on-deck stability in greater than 15° flight deck roll conditions.[7] [8]

The French Navy performed test flights during September and October 2008, with a Camcopter spending four days on a barge in the Atlantic Ocean and a further three days on the frigate Montcalm (D642).[9]

Libya ordered four Camcopters in 2009, which were placed under command of the Khamis Brigade.[10]

Jordan ordered two S-100s with L3Harris Wescam MX-10 EO-IR payloads in July 2010 and accepted delivery in February 2011.[11]

In November 2011 the Camcopter demonstrated flights from the French L'Adroit.[12] At the same time, the Gorizont (Horizon) Air S-100, a Russian license-built version of the UAV was successfully tested aboard the Coast Guard patrol cutter Rubin. Russia intends to equip all s with these UAVs.[13]

In 2010 the Chinese Navy purchased 18 of these systems. Two years later, in May 2012, an unmanned UAV believed to be a Camcopter S-100 was photographed operating from the fantail of a Chinese Type 054A frigate.[14]

In April 2012, the Camcopter became the first unmanned helicopter to fly from an Italian Navy vessel when it was flight tested from the MM Bersagliere (F-584).[15] In February 2014, the Italian Navy chose the S-100 as its primary unmanned aerial system for shipboard operations, where it will be used for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR). It will additionally support other activities, such as search and rescue and natural disaster recovery.[16] They are currently assigned to the 4° Gruppo Elicotteri (4th Helicopter Sqn.) based at the Grottaglie Naval Air Station near Taranto.[17]

In December 2014, the Camcopter went through a series of trials in Bizerte, Tunisia, to serve within the Tunisian Army. Schiebel selected the Italian company Leonardo to supply AESA-based SAR radar for the systems which were to enter service in 2017.[18]

In February 2017, the Royal Australian Navy awarded a contract to provide an unrevealed number of Camcopter systems, plus three-years support.[19] The type is operated by 822X Squadron RAN, which is responsible for trialling UAVs.[20]

In 2018, the Belgian Navy conducted a week-long testing of the Camcopter, assessing its utility for maritime surveillance and search and rescue.[21]

In early 2023, the Royal Navy selected the system for operations in an intelligence-gathering, surveillance and reconnaissance role. To be named Peregrine in Royal Navy service, it is initially intended to begin operations in the Persian Gulf in mid-2024.[22]

The Hellenic Navy may acquire the Camcopter to complement the FDI frigates. [23]

Airframe losses

On 10 May 2012, an Austrian engineer from Schiebel was killed and two South Korean colleagues were injured when a Camcopter S-100 crashed into their control vehicle during a test flight in the South Korean city of Incheon.[24]

On 25 August 2015, forces in Yemen shot down a Camcopter S-100 operated by the United Arab Emirates Army in the area of Mukayris of southern Yemen.[25]

On 28 August 2020, a Camcopter S-100 owned by the European Maritime Safety Agency and operated by the Croatian Ministry of Maritime Affairs, Transport and Infrastructure crashed shortly after takeoff from Brač Airport, causing a fire which destroyed of macchia. No injuries were reported.[26] [27]

On 20 April 2022, it was claimed that Ukrainian forces shot down a Horizon Air S-100 operated by the Russian Armed Forces using a Man-portable air-defense system.[28] [29] The images showed the wreckage of a Russian VM-V helicopter target (decoy) with its manufacturer АО ЦНТУ «Динамика» written on the plate.

Operators

Military users

Non-military users

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: AAIB Bulletin . Air Accidents Investigation Branch . 66 . 8 June 2017.
  2. Maiden Flight of the Camcopter S-100 with Schiebel's New Heavy Fuel Engine . Schiebel.net . Andrea . Blama . 12 March 2012 . 22 June 2012.
  3. Camcopter UAV flies with Thales dual-mode radar . Flight International . Craig . Hoyle . 19 February 2013 . 27 May 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130307123121/http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/picture-camcopter-uav-flies-with-thales-dual-mode-radar-382465/ . 7 March 2013 . live.
  4. All hands on deck: the sky's the limit for shipboard UAVs . Jane's Navy International . Rupert . Pengelley . 12–13 . June 2009 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20130426180412/http://schiebel.net/AcmsFile/1486/0/550/2009-06-02_Janes_Navy_International.pdf . 26 April 2013.
  5. News: CamCopter S-100: Shipboard Trials with Pakistani Navy . Defencetalk.com . 17 April 2008 . 27 May 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160304002146/http://www.defencetalk.com/camcopter-s-100-shipboard-trials-with-pakistani-navy-15259/ . 4 March 2016 . live.
  6. News: Camcopter S-100 Shipboard Trials With Guardia Civil South . ASDNews.com . 18 April 2008 . 27 May 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150609002308/http://www.asdnews.com/news-15900/Camcopter_S-100_Shipboard_Trials_With_Guardia_Civil_South.htm . 9 June 2015 . live.
  7. News: Camcopter S-100 completes extensive German Navy flight trials . Shephard Media . 30 September 2008 . 4 June 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120327062855/http://www.shephardmedia.com/news/uvonline/camcopter-s-100-completes-extensive-german-navy-flight-trials/267/ . 27 March 2012 . live.
  8. News: Camcopter S-100 UAV Successfully Completes Deck Landing Trials on K130 Corvettes . Deagle.com . 14 October 2008 . 4 June 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20121004042353/http://www.deagel.com/news/Camcopter-S-100-UAV-Successfully-Completes-Deck-Landing-Trials-on-K130-Corvettes_n000005167.aspx . 4 October 2012 . live.
  9. News: DCNS claims automatic shipborne UAV recovery breakthrough . Janes.com . Richard . Scott . 14 October 2008 . 16 October 2008 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110608022831/http://www.janes.com/products/janes/defence-security-report.aspx?id=1065926514 . 8 June 2011 . live.
  10. News: Rot-weiß-rote Drohnen in Gaddafis Diensten . Der Standard . 1 March 2011 . 2 March 2011 . de . https://web.archive.org/web/20110304021541/http://derstandard.at/1297819293825/Austro-Kriegsmaterial-Rot-weiss-rote-Drohnen-in-Gaddafis-Diensten . 4 March 2011 . live.
  11. Jordan gets Schiebel Camcopter S-100 . Flight International . Gayle . Putrich . 23 February 2011 . 22 June 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20141006074408/http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/jordan-gets-schiebel-camcopter-s-100-353527/ . 6 October 2014 . live.
  12. News: Schiebel's unmanned helo proves its worth . United Press International via Spacewar.com . 30 November 2011 . 1 December 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20111206111503/http://www.spacewar.com/reports/Schiebels_unmanned_helo_proves_its_worth_999.html . 6 December 2011 . live.
  13. News: http://www.militaryparitet.com/teletype/data/ic_teletype/12855/ . ru:На Черном море успешно проведены морские испытания БЛА вертолетного типа . Military Paritet . 29 November 2011 . 27 June 2012 . ru . https://web.archive.org/web/20140903135904/http://www.militaryparitet.com/teletype/data/ic_teletype/12855/ . 3 September 2014 . live.
  14. Schiebel Camcopter S-100 operated from Chinese frigate . Flight Global . Greg . Waldron . 18 May 2012 . 18 May 2012.
  15. News: First drone-helicopter to take-off from an Italian navy ship . AvioNews . 3 May 2012 . 27 August 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140903125555/http://www.avionews.com/index.php?corpo=see_news_home.php&news_id=1140170&pagina_chiamante=index.php . 3 September 2014 . live.
  16. News: The Italian Navy is testing a tiny Camcopter drone from its amphibious warfare ship . The Aviationist . David . Cenciotti . 31 May 2014 . 27 August 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140903063115/http://theaviationist.com/2014/05/31/s-100-san-giusto-trials/ . 3 September 2014 . live.
  17. Web site: Orbats.
  18. News: Schiebel selects Leonardo to supply AESA-based SAR radar for UAV . Quwa . Bilal . Khan . 2 March 2017 . 27 June 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180627202036/https://quwa.org/2017/03/02/schiebel-selects-leonardo-supply-aesa-based-sar-radar-uav/ . 27 June 2018 . live.
  19. News: Australia selects Camcopter for naval VTOL UAV requirement . IHS Jane's 360 . Gareth . Jennings . 6 February 2017 . 10 February 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170206164823/http://www.janes.com/article/67517/australia-selects-camcopter-for-naval-vtol-uav-requirement . 6 February 2017.
  20. Web site: 822X Squadron . Royal Australian Navy . 30 October 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20181030170535/http://www.navy.gov.au/about/organisation/fleet-air-arm/822x-squadron . 30 October 2018 . live.
  21. News: Belgian Navy tests Austrian copter drone for at-sea surveillance . . Sebastian . Sprenger . 4 July 2018 . The Belgian Navy has finished a weeklong series of test flights with Schiebel’s CAMCOPTER S-100 drone as part of the sea service’s search for new maritime-surveillance and search-and-rescue equipment, the company announced Tuesday..
  22. Web site: Peregrine rotary wing UAV to enter service with the Royal Navy . Navy Lookout. 10 February 2023.
  23. Web site: Mitsopoulos . Dimitris . The Future Of The Hellenic Navy Fleet . navalnews.com . Naval News . 2 June 2024.
  24. News: Schiebel S-100 crash kills engineer in South Korea . sUAS News . Gary . Mortimer . 11 May 2012 . 2 May 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160411195437/http://www.suasnews.com/2012/05/schiebel-s-100-crash-kills-engineer-in-south-korea/ . 11 April 2016 . live.
  25. News: Another Saudi Spy Drone Downed by Yemen . . 12 February 2016 . 12 November 2019 .
  26. Web site: Na Braču se srušio dron pun kerozina i izazvao požar, Ministarstvo mora: To je naša letjelica. 28 August 2020. Jutarnji list. hr. 28 August 2020.
  27. Web site: Na Braču se srušio dron i izazvao požar: Radi se o dronu koje koristi ministarstvo? . . 28 August 2020 . hr . 29 August 2020.
  28. Web site: Підрозділами ППО ДШВ ЗС України збито два чергових російських БПЛА "Горизонт Ейр S-100" та "Орлан-10" . uk . Two regular Russian UAVs "Horizon Air S-100" and "Orlan-10" shot down by air defense units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
  29. News: AFU airborne troops shot down two Russian UAVs using "Stinger" and "Starstreak" SAMs . . 20 April 2022 . 20 April 2022.
  30. https://www.australiandefence.com.au/news/news/navy-to-conclude-s-100-operations-this-month
  31. Web site: Mitzer . Stijn . Oliemans . Joost . The Middle East's Game of Drones: Egypt's UAV Arsenal . Oryx . 28 December 2021.
  32. Web site: UN Expert Calls for EU Investigation Into Austrian Firm That Sold Drones to Myanmar . 10 August 2019 . 26 January 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200126033121/https://myanmar-now.org/en/news/un-expert-calls-for-eu-investigation-into-austrian-firm-that-sold-drones-to-myanmar . dead .
  33. Broadbent . Mark . UAV Focus . . August 2021 . 101 . 2 . 14 . 0306-5634.
  34. Web site: OSCE Special Monitoring Mission . OSCE . 20 February 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160304195806/http://www.osce.org/ukraine-smm/125813 . 4 March 2016 . live.
  35. News: 2020-04-06 . Frontiera maritimă a României, supravegheată de o dronă de mari dimensiuni. ro-RO . CTnews .
  36. News: 2020-07-31. 'Baby shark' drones to help rescue helicopters . en-GB . BBC News . 2020-08-02.

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