The French army’s 61st Artillery Regiment recently field tested the new ERS-RVT terminal designed by Sagem, a SAFRAN Group company, for tactical data exchange and direct image reception from the Sperwer UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle). ERS-RVT stands for End Reception Station – Remote Video Terminal.
Developed by Sagem, the ERS-RVT allows troops on the ground and forward observers to receive and transmit video images acquired by the UAV. The ERS-RVT incorporates feedback from previous missions, and provides a more accurate assessment of threats to enhance the safety of front-line troops in hostile environments.
The ERS-RVT comprises a tactical terminal and a man-portable transmitter-receiver, providing real-time, high-resolution displays of geo-referenced images, along with a digital map. Meeting NATO interoperability standards, the ERS-RVT features a modular, open and scalable architecture, capable of using different waveforms and bandwidths.
“This system will allow us to expect more in the way of decision aids for lower command levels. The results of these trials were conclusive: ERs-RVT offers an excellent image, and its ergonomic design enables highly intuitive operation,” said one member of the 61st Artillery Regiment.
Developed by Sagem as part of its new Sperwer Mk II tactical drone system, the ERS-RVT can also be adapted to Sperwer systems already in service.
Background Information
- The 61st Artillery Regiment, part of the Intelligence Brigade, has deployed the Sperwer tactical drone system, developed and produced by Sagem, since 2004.
- The Sperwer UAV has been used on a daily basis in Afghanistan since October 2003, to support NATO forces. It totals over 1,500 missions in this theater of operation.
Sagem is a high-tech company in the SAFRAN Group. It is a world or European leader in solutions and services in optronics, avionics, electronics 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, South East Asia and North America.
