LE BOURGET: At the Paris Air Show today, Sagem (SAFRAN group) and Stemme are unveiling Patroller, a new dual long-endurance surveillance drone for both defense and security missions.
Developed within a French-German industrial partnership, Patroller combines the Sagem’s expertise in operational drones with Stemme’s long experience in high-performance powered gliders.
Patroller features an imaging system based on the Sagem Euroflir gyrostabilized optronic observation system, along with a synthetic aperture radar (SAR) by OHB, and a low data rate Satcom. Depending on user requirements, it could eventually carry other payloads, including an airborne relay and maritime radar.
In the medium term Patroller could be deployed in civil airspace for homeland protection, or border and coastal patrol missions, as well as emergency services for civilian populations.
Launched from a runway, the Patroller system is interoperable with Sagem’s proven Sperwer tactical drone. The two drones share the same ground segment, as well as a large part of their avionics.
Patroller made its first flight on June 10, 2009 at the Kemijarvi test site in Finland. During this flight the drone met its objectives in terms of flight control, automatic takeoff and landing, and transmission of video images captured by its Euroflir observation system.
Calling on mature technologies and proven components, Patroller offers both high performance (max. speed 170 kts, operational ceiling 25,000 ft, endurance exceeding 30 hours, 250 kg/550 lb payload) and excellent cost-efficiency.
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.
