Sagem Defense,
PARIS: French defense procurement agency DGA has chosen Sagem (SAFRAN Group) over a field of competing companies to design the datalink system for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV).
According to the terms of the contract – dubbed Lido, French acronym for Drone Data Link – Sagem will define all data links intended for future UAV systems: line-of-site and satellite links needed for both air vehicle control and operating the onboard sensors.
The contract will apply to all future UAV systems, whether tactical, operative, theater or combat (UCAV). The technologies offered by Sagem will feature innovative, economical bandwidth solutions, plus enhanced protection against electronic warfare (EW).
The Ku-band datalink system for Sagem Defense Sécurité’s Sperwer* tactical UAV system, in compliance with NATO standards, has already amply proven its capabilities in some of the world’s most demanding theaters of operation, especially Afghanistan: reliability, flight safety and ability to seamlessly integrated complex defense architectures for joint-service and/or allied operations.
The Sperwer tactical UAV system (French designation SDTI: Système de Drones Tactique Intérimaire) is in service with the armed forces of Canada, the Netherlands, Sweden, France and Greece, and is currently deployed by three countries in Afghanistan.
Sagem is a high-tech company in the SAFRAN Group. It is a world or European leader in solutions and services in optronics, avionics and critical software for the civilian and military markets. Sagem is the European No. 1 and worldwide No.3 in INSs for aeronautic, naval and land applications. It is also the worldwide No.1 in helicopter flight controls and the European No.1 in optronic and tactical UAV systems. Present across the globe via the SAFRAN Group’s international network, Sagem and its subsidiaries employ 6000 people in Europe and the US.
