Safran Patroller Explained

The Patroller is a French medium-altitude long-endurance unmanned aerial vehicle developed and manufactured by Safran Electronics & Defense (formerly by SAGEM). The airframe is based on the Stemme ASP S15 motor glider.

The first flight was in June 2009 at Kemijarvi in Finland; it was shown at the 2009 Paris Air Show.[1] The Patroller is a Medium-altitude long-endurance unmanned aerial vehicle (MALE) by the definition of the NATO.[2]

It completed another series of flight tests in July 2010, which demonstrated it is capable of missions lasting 20–30 hours; it can carry a 250 kg payload (including 80 kg under each wing).[3] The Patroller will carry out imaging and surveillance trials in southern France, detecting forest fires.[4]

The Patroller uses the same ground control station as Sperwer II. A Ku-band datalink is used; range is limited to 200 km (line of sight).[1]

Safran Electronics & Defense and Egyptian aircraft factory AOI have signed a collaboration agreement concerning the Patroller UAV. AOI-Aircraft Factory could handle final assembly of the drones and will develop a dedicated training center in Egypt to train staff for the operation and maintenance of the drone systems.[5]

Operators

French Army
  • 5 systems (28 drones) planned and to be delivered by 2030; first system (5 drones) to be delivered in summer 2023. Initial pre-production example was handed over to the French Army’s 61st Artillery Regiment in May 2023 for evaluation and familiarisation.
    Hellenic Army
  • First export customer; 4 drones and 3 ground stations ordered in June 2023 to replace the SAGEM Sperwer.[6]

    Notes and References

    1. Web site: Patroller MALE Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV), France. Airforce-technology. 6 January 2013.
    2. Web site: NATO – Joint Air Power Competence Centre. NATO. 1 June 2010.
    3. Web site: Sagem reveals new Patroller UAV variants . . 15 July 2010. 14 August 2011.
    4. Web site: Patroller wins first contract in French fire detection trials. 12 August 2010. 14 August 2011.
    5. News: Sagem and AOI – Aircraft Factory sign collaboration agreement on drones for Egyptian defense market. 24 September 2015.
    6. Web site: Perry . Dominic . Greece selects Safran Patroller UAV for Sperwer replacement . flightglobal.com . Flight Global . 23 June 2023.