Finnish-based UAV catapult manufacturer Robonic has been taken over by Sagem Defense and Security in an undisclosed value deal which includes Finland's sole commercial UAV flight operations range at Kemijarvi.
The deal follows almost 12 months of negotiations between the two companies, with these finalised shortly before the Paris air show.
Sagem says the takeover supports continued development of its tactical UAV family, including Sperwer B. It will also be offering Robonic launchers as part of upgrade packages for existing Sperwer A operators.
Robonic's existing customer base includes EADS, which has acquired several launchers for use as part of its commercial target services business, and the Finnish army. The company has also been working with BAE Systems and Galileo Avionica on catapult launch options for their respective Herti and Falco tactical UAVs.
Sagem acquired a pneumatic launcher last year and has been the primary customer for Robonic's Arctic Test UAV Flight Centre at Kemijarvi since the centre began operations in 2005. Initial Sperwer B testing was carried out at the range in June 2006, with a follow-on series starting this year in late June.
Finnish and European regulatory approvals for the takeover are still being finalised.
Robonic managing director Juha Moisio says an initial green light has been provided by Finnish authorities.
He says the sale will provide the small Finnish manufacturer with wider international market access and should be seen as part of a progressive rationalisation of the unmanned systems sector in Europe. "This consolidation helps build critical mass in the industrial base. It is a part of the drawing together more of the individual smaller players which by themselves can only take their capabilities so far."
Robonic will also be better placed to develop new derivative systems and extend its product range he says, with Sagem providing wider exposure to customer requirements.
Robonic will continue to trade under its own name. "We remain as an independent company and the intent is to continue co-operation with all existing companies and operators with which we have links."
Existing plans to expand the focus of the flight centre to include UAV operator training services will proceed says Moisio. "There are few land and air spaces that big available in Europe, and operators and industry both recognise they need the range to be there."
The flight centre's chief of operations Petri Eravaara says that development of a common European UAV operator training system remains a distinct possibility as national and European Union authorities continue to drive efforts for a harmonised regulatory and operational environment. "We are awaiting multinational discussions about the future of UAV training needs," he says.
The location of the flight centre inside the Arctic Circle also provides opportunity for it to become a focal point for cold climate testing of a range of unmanned systems technologies, Eravaara says.
Source: Flight International
