FRENCH SYSTEMS specialist Sagem has signed a deal with California, USA-based General Atomics to develop and market a European version of the US company's Predator long-range unmanned air vehicle (UAV).
The new UAV, called Horus, will complete the range of vehicles offered by Sagem, which markets the short-/medium-range Crecerelle and Sperwer UAVs, which are in service with NATO continues. The Horus will also be built to NATO standards.
Sagem says that it is still "too early" to talk about precise details of the accord, which was signed at Eurosatory. It says only that the Horus will be similar to the Predator in being fitted with infra-red electro-optical and synthetic-aperture-radar payloads, but adds that these will be "-supplied by European companies", which have yet to be chosen. The vehicle will have a range of more than 2,000km (1,100nm), says Sagem, and an endurance of over 40h.
General Atomics markets a range of high-endurance UAV systems, and its Predator has already seen active service in Bosnia.
Source: Flight International
