French Navy Integrates UAVs in Naval Combat Management System

The French defence procurement agency (DGA) and naval shipbuilder DCNS have completed a series of sea trials validating the functional integration of an unmanned aerial system operating as part of the combat system of a naval vessel.

The four day test was conducted from 9-13 December 2013 as part of the SERVAL unmanned air systems (UAS) programme. (SERVAL: Système Embarqué de Reconnaissance Vecteur Aérien Léger – translated to: shipboard reconnaissance system – light air vehicle)

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.

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