Schiebel Establishes French Subsidiary Ahead Of Likely S-300 SDAM Bid
https://aviationweek.com/defense-space/ ... s-300-sdamSchiebel, the Austrian developer of the S-100 Camcopter UAS (uncrewed air system), has opened a French subsidiary.
Schiebel Aéronaval SAS is based in Toulon and will "provide localised support for the French Navy's fleet of S-100 within the framework" of the five-year contract the firm signed with DMAe (Direction de la Maintenance Aéronautique) in 2023, according to a company release.
The new division will also be home to production, maintenance and training departments, and "is intended to become the main European production and payload integration site" for the in-development S-300. This larger variant is capable of carrying payloads up to 250kg (551lb) and operating at up to 21,000ft. The S-100's payload capacity is 34kg (75lb) while its operating ceiling is 18,000ft.
The S-300 is considered likely to compete with Airbus's VSR700 for France's expected SDAM (Navy Airborne Drone System) program. When the company began marketing the S-300 in 2023, the aspiration had been to achieve first flight by the end of 2024 and begin deliveries the following year.
