Schiebel Camcopter® S-100 UAS impresses with its Multi-Mission Capabilities at REPMUS 2024
Vienna, October 16. Schiebel participated in the large-scale NATO supported exercise REPMUS 2024 (Robotic Experimentation and Prototyping using Maritime Uncrewed Systems) hosted by the Portuguese Navy. For the third year in a row, the CAMCOPTER® S-100 presented its unrivalled multi-mission capabilities in the maritime domain.
Sponsored by the UK Royal Navy and in partnership with Thales, the S-100 flew multiple missions over the three weeks of the exercise and impressed with its Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities as well as its Anti- Submarine Warfare (ASW), Mine Counter Measures (MCM) and Rapid Environmental Assessment (REA) solutions:
Sonobuoy deployment and data relay (ASW)
At last year’s REPMUS, the CAMCOPTER® S-100 demonstrated its sonobuoy dispenser, successfully deploying four G-size sonobuoys from the air to form a small ASW barrier. This year, the UAS additionally dropped and deployed the more capable A-size sonobuoys alongside the four G-size sonobuoys. A second S-100, configured with the Thales BlueTracker communications payload, then relayed the sonobuoy signals back to the ground station in real time providing critical range extension. The mission was planned and monitored using the Thales M-Cube Mission Management System, with BlueTracker acoustic processing of the received signals and subsequent dissemination of underwater targets to the Combat Management System. An end-to- end, integrated capability for ASW operations.
Bathymetric and topographic mapping (MCM and REA)
Schiebel fitted the CAMCOPTER® S-100 with the VQ-860-G and the VUX-120 LiDARs from the Austrian company Riegl, enabling the S-100 to scan the exercise waters for both drifting and moored mines. The laser scanners provide simultaneous bathymetric and topographic mapping under water, on surface and along coastlines, making the S-100 the perfect asset for detecting sea mines (for MCM) as well as for supporting amphibious operations (for REA). The mission was planned and monitored using Thales M-Cube Mission Management System, a task order was then placed on the mine clearance divers to complete the identification of the mines detected by the UAS. An end-to-end, integrated capability for MCM and REA operations.
“Maritime warfare utilising UAS is becoming more and more front of mind for Navies all over the world. Using the latest technology combined with a proven unmanned asset provides an end-to-end solution for ASW that saves valuable time and significantly reduces risks,” said Hans Georg Schiebel, Chairman of the Schiebel Group. “With our 20 plus years of operational experience, especially in the harsh maritime environment flying from ships, and the exceptional technical specifications of the S-100, it is the ideal UAS to showcase the latest unmanned airborne capabilities at REPMUS.”
About Schiebel:
Founded in 1951 in Vienna, the globally operating Schiebel Group focuses on the development, design and production of the revolutionary CAMCOPTER® S-100 Unmanned Air System (UAS). Certified to meet AS/EN 9100 standards, Schiebel has built an international reputation for producing high-tech military, commercial and humanitarian products, which are backed by exceptional after-sales service and support. Schiebel has facilities in Vienna and Wiener Neustadt (Austria), Toulon (France), Manassas, VA (USA), Abu Dhabi (UAE), and Shoalhaven (Australia).
About the CAMCOPTER® S-100:
Schiebel’s CAMCOPTER® S-100 Unmanned Air System (UAS) is an operationally proven capability for military and civilian applications. The Vertical Takeoff and Landing (VTOL) UAS requires no prepared area or supporting equipment to enable launch and recovery. It operates by day and by night, under adverse weather conditions, with a beyond line-of-sight capability out to 200 km / 108 nm, over land and sea. Its carbon fiber and titanium fuselage provides capacity for a wide range of payload/endurance combinations up to a service ceiling of 5,500 m / 18,000 ft. In a typical configuration, the CAMCOPTER® S-100 carries a 34-kg / 75-lbs payload up to 10 hours and is powered with AVGas or JP-5 heavy fuel. High-definition payload imagery is transmitted to the control station in real time. In addition to its standard GPS waypoint or manual navigation, the S-100 can successfully operate in environments where GPS is not available, with missions planned and controlled via a simple point-and- click graphical user interface. The high-tech unmanned helicopter is backed by Schiebel’s excellent customer support and training services.
