Cassidian to Support French DRAC UAVs

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Cassidian will provide support for the French Army’s Drone de Renseignement Au Contact (DRAC) mini unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), under a contract announced on 17 November.

According to Janes the deal has a minimum value of EUR9.6 million (USD12.96 million) and a maximum value of EUR26.6 million depending on works needed, and runs over a five-year period.

iHLS – Israel Homeland Security

Since December 2004, France has procured a total of 255 UAVs and a further 10 as spares in three separate orders placed in 2008, 2010 and 2011. To support the UAVs in service the French Army uses a specific configuration of Panhard Defense PVP armoured vehicle.

The hand-launched DRAC UAV is commercially marketed as Tracker and built in partnership with Survey Copter. Weighing 8.35 kg and measuring 1.59 m x 3.34 m, it can operate for up to 90 minutes with a range in excess of 10 km. Each system consists of two aircraft, a ground station featuring two ruggedised computers with joysticks, and a mast-mounted tracking datalink antenna. Austria recently opted to purchase six Tracker UAV systems.