Sagem will provide continued support for the French army's Sperwer unmanned air systems under a new deal with the nation's SIMMAD military maintenance, repair and overhaul body.
To run until 2014, the contract "covers all maintenance, repair and technical support services", Sagem said.
Referred to as SDTI by the French army, the Sperwer system has provided tactical intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance services in support of the nation's armed forces in Afghanistan since 2003.
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Also contained within the contract is an order for two Kontio MC2555LLR towed pneumatic launchers from Finnish supplier Robonic. "These will reduce the system's footprint, decrease operating costs, facilitate catapult operations and increase the payload to extend the drone's endurance," said Sagem.
The French army has expressed strong interest in the larger Watchkeeper UAS being developed for the British Army by a joint venture formed by Thales UK and Elbit Systems. If acquired, following a formal assessment to be conducted in the south of France next year, Watchkeeper air vehicles could replace the SDTI capability from the middle of this decade.
Source: Flight International
