Shipborne UAV Will Operate Surveillance and Intelligence Missions

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Shipborne UAVs are already available, but they are either lightweight, and therefore not powerful enough to carry the necessary instruments, or they are relatively large, making operation more complex. A new UAV is going to fill this gap. Airbus has been developing the Vertivision Surveillance Rotorcraft – VSR700 – in cooperation with Helicoptères Guimbal.

Developed to meet navies’ requirements for a shipborne rotary-wing tactical unmanned aerial vehicle and complement to manned helicopters, it could also be used in land-based military operations to carry out ISTAR (Intelligence Surveillance Target Acquisition and Reconnaissance) missions, thanks to the VSR700’s optical sensors and maritime/land radar, according to Airbus website.

The 1,543-pound VSR700 will be capable of carrying a wide array of mission equipment with a maximum capacity of up to 250 kg. Depending on the mission, its endurance could exceed 10 hours.

The VSR700 will have a much lower operating cost than a helicopter not only thanks to its well-proven civil base vehicle and low-consumption diesel engine but also because it requires fewer resources and less manpower to operate and maintain it.

“The Earth’s curvature means a frigate can survey an area of about 100 kilometers,” said Régis Antomarchi, who heads the program to develop the rotary-wing UAV and bring it to market. “With the VSR700, this radius is multiplied many times over.”

Antomarchi added: “The VSR700 is based on the civil Cabri G2 developed by Guimbal, a light, single-engine, diesel-powered helicopter. With a fuel consumption of 15 kilograms per hour, the UAV is expected to stay airborne for up to 10 hours. The payload of around 250 kilograms is intended for optical reconnaissance instruments and radar.

In cooperation with French shipbuilder Naval Group, Airbus is also offering a solution for the new medium-sized frigates tailored specifically to the requirements of the French Navy.

A pilot-operated flight control system was added to the VSR700 equipment for its first test flights as an optionally piloted vehicle (OPV). “The initial tests are taking place with the safety pilot on board before unmanned flights begin next year,” he added, according to verticalmag.com.