Austria's Schiebel says that its Camcopter vertical take-off and landing unmanned air vehicle (UAV) is the recommended platform for the next phase of Germany's Airborne Minefield Reconnaissance Technology programme.
The compact rotary-wing UAV won the endorsement of the IABG, which tests and evaluates systems for the German military.
The next phase of the stand-off minefield detection project will include a feasibility demonstration of the UAV with a German-made multi-spectral sensor package. Field trials are planned for mid-1999. Procurement of the minefield detection system would follow in 2006.
The Camcopter is powered by a two-stroke gasoline engine. Its autonomous flight controls are based on inertial navigation combined with a differential global positioning system.
Source: Flight International
