Safran Patroller

Patroller
Safran Patroller displayed at the Salon du Bourget (Paris, 2019)
Role MALE UAV
National origin France
Manufacturer Safran Electronics & Defense
Designer Safran Electronics & Defense
Stemme
First flight 10 June 2009
Introduction 2023
Primary user French Army
Developed from Stemme ASP S15

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

 France
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.
 Greece
Hellenic Army: First export customer; 4 drones and 3 ground stations ordered in June 2023 to replace the SAGEM Sperwer.[6]

Specifications

Data from [7]

General characteristics

  • Crew: 0
  • Length: 8.5 m (27 ft 11 in)
  • Wingspan: 18 m (59 ft 1 in)
  • Powerplant: 1 × liquid air cooled turbocharged Rotax 914F

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 314 km/h (195 mph, 169 kn)
  • Cruise speed: 92 km/h (57 mph, 50 kn)
  • Endurance: 30 hours
  • Service ceiling: 7,620 m (25,000 ft)
  • Takeoff distance: 250 m (820 ft)

Avionics

  • Euroflir 410 EO and IR sensors

References

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

See also

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

Related lists