(NSI News Source Info) PARIS, France - October 16, 2009: France is in talks to buy a fourth SIDM interim medium-altitude, long-endurance UAV from EADS and has bought six tactical SDTI drones second-hand from Canada, the Defense Ministry said Oct. 15. 
"We are in the process of buying a fourth SIDM," Defense Ministry spokesman Laurent Teisseire said. The French Air Force has three of the SIDMs (Système Intérimaire des Drones MALE) built by EADS and earlier this year damaged one of the aircraft while flying in Afghanistan. The Air Force calls the SIDM Harfang, or Snow Owl.
The damaged unit is currently at Mont de Marsan in central France and is expected to return to operation in 2010, a procurement official said. The fourth SIDM, which has been used for training, is also expected to be deployed next year.
A purchase of six SDTI (Système de Drone Tactique Intérimaire) from Canada has been completed, Teisseire said. "They are already on the ground."
Officials from the Direction Générale pour l'Armement (DGA) procurement office are inspecting the six Sperwer tactical UAVs to determine their operational condition, Adm. Christophe Prazuck said.
The French Army operates four Sperwer UAVs and one launcher in Afghanistan, he said.
Safran group's Sagem delivered 18 Sperwer aircraft and four launch systems in 2004, a company spokesman said. The DGA ordered an extra three Sperwer aircraft in June.
Asked if France was in talks to buy Reaper UAVs from the U.S.-based General Atomics, Teisseire said: "All options are being studied for acquisition of medium-altitude, long-endurance UAVs beyond 2015."
A French executive, meanwhile, said, "As far as we know, General Atomics has not been in contact with the DGA since early this year."
The French services are gathering information from operating the existing UAV fleet and will capitalize on the lessons learned, Teisseire said.
For the MALE segment, Thales and Dassault Aviation have teamed with Indra to offer the SDM, based on the Heron TP from Israel Aircraft Industries, while EADS has completed a risk reduction study on the Talarion, a jet-powered UAV.
France's share of development for Talarion would be 450 million euros ($672 million) and recurring costs would be 90 million to 100 million euros, based on three air vehicles, the payload and ground station, French newsletter AeroDefense News quoted EADS senior vice president Nicolas Chamussy as saying. The figure could be lower depending on the participation of France, Germany and Spain, the three countries that commissioned the risk reduction study.
"We are in the process of buying a fourth SIDM," Defense Ministry spokesman Laurent Teisseire said. The French Air Force has three of the SIDMs (Système Intérimaire des Drones MALE) built by EADS and earlier this year damaged one of the aircraft while flying in Afghanistan. The Air Force calls the SIDM Harfang, or Snow Owl.
The damaged unit is currently at Mont de Marsan in central France and is expected to return to operation in 2010, a procurement official said. The fourth SIDM, which has been used for training, is also expected to be deployed next year.
A purchase of six SDTI (Système de Drone Tactique Intérimaire) from Canada has been completed, Teisseire said. "They are already on the ground."
Officials from the Direction Générale pour l'Armement (DGA) procurement office are inspecting the six Sperwer tactical UAVs to determine their operational condition, Adm. Christophe Prazuck said.
The French Army operates four Sperwer UAVs and one launcher in Afghanistan, he said.
Safran group's Sagem delivered 18 Sperwer aircraft and four launch systems in 2004, a company spokesman said. The DGA ordered an extra three Sperwer aircraft in June.
Asked if France was in talks to buy Reaper UAVs from the U.S.-based General Atomics, Teisseire said: "All options are being studied for acquisition of medium-altitude, long-endurance UAVs beyond 2015."
A French executive, meanwhile, said, "As far as we know, General Atomics has not been in contact with the DGA since early this year."
The French services are gathering information from operating the existing UAV fleet and will capitalize on the lessons learned, Teisseire said.
For the MALE segment, Thales and Dassault Aviation have teamed with Indra to offer the SDM, based on the Heron TP from Israel Aircraft Industries, while EADS has completed a risk reduction study on the Talarion, a jet-powered UAV.
France's share of development for Talarion would be 450 million euros ($672 million) and recurring costs would be 90 million to 100 million euros, based on three air vehicles, the payload and ground station, French newsletter AeroDefense News quoted EADS senior vice president Nicolas Chamussy as saying. The figure could be lower depending on the participation of France, Germany and Spain, the three countries that commissioned the risk reduction study.
Read about Canada's experience with the Sperwer drone in Afghanistan
ReplyDeleteTheir performance is a costly and a closely guarded secret in Canada.