On the sidelines of the 54th edition of Paris Air Show which took place last week (19-25 June), Safran made major announcements during the event, including:
Greek Army Selects Safran’s Patroller
The Greek Army has chosen Safran Electronics & Defense to upgrade the Greek army’s drone fleet, with four new Patroller tactical drones to be added to the country’s current Sperwer drones. NATO Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA) was tasked by its Greek customer to enter into negotiations with Safran.
The Patroller (photo) leverages over 30 years of technological breakthroughs within Safran Electronics & Defense in the field of tactical drone systems specializing in navigation systems, onboard electronics and optronics. Building on this extensive expertise, Safran develops in France top-flight solutions for mission planning and execution, flight control, navigation, sensors, data links and integration in C4ISR (Command, Control, Communications, Computers - Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance) architectures.
The Patroller is fitted with multiple sensors for intelligence missions on behalf of armies and homeland security forces. Featuring a number of innovative technologies, Patroller benefits from the expertise acquired by Safran Electronics & Defense on the Sperwer tactical drone system, while incorporating feedback from nine years of continuous deployment in Afghanistan.
In February 2023, Patroller became the first tactical drone system to be officially certified to NATO airworthiness standard STANAG 4671, applicable to fixed-wing drones weighing more than 150 kilograms. This certification is a vital prerequisite for protection and homeland security missions.
This latest selection, in continuity with Sperwer in service today, and the addition of Patroller to the NATO offers confirm Safran Electronics & Defense’s European leadership in tactical drones. Patroller offers unrivaled versatility, ranging from support for land forces to maritime and border monitoring, enabling it to perform a wide variety of surveillance missions.
Safran’s Euroflir 410D Optronic System Chosen for French Air Force’s VADOR Intelligence Aircraft
Safran Electronics & Defense’s Euroflir 410D optronic (electro-optical) system has been selected by the French defense procurement agency DGA (Direction Générale de l’Armement) for the Beechcraft Super King Air 350 “VADOR” (Vecteurs Aéroportés de Désignation, d’Observation et de Reconnaissance) designation, observation and reconnaissance aircraft to be deployed by the French air force.
Capable of detecting and identifying threats out to a range of several dozen of kilometers, the Euroflir 410D will enable French forces deploying the VADOR to carry out identification, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) missions undetected, day or night, and in all weather conditions.
The Euroflir 410D, developed and produced in France by Safran, is a compact, modular unit offering unrivaled observation performance in all visibility conditions, largely due to its very-long-range multispectral telescope and high-performance line-of-sight stabilization system.
This latest selection confirms Safran’s European leadership in the highly demanding market for advanced optronic systems on helicopters, drones and reconnaissance aircraft.
Safran to Supply Navigation and Flight Control Equipment for Modernized Tiger Helicopters
As part of the Tiger attack helicopter modernization program, Airbus Helicopters has chosen key navigation and flight control equipment from Safran Electronics & Defense for the aircraft to be deployed by French and Spanish armed forces. These advanced systems and equipment will help Tiger crews carry out all missions, under any conditions and even in the most demanding theaters of operation.
SkyNaute is an ultra-compact hybrid inertial navigation system, based on Safran’s patented Crystal.
HRG (hemispherical resonator gyro) technology. Thanks to this new technology, SkyNaute offers an extremely lightweight and compact design. Combining high integrity and precision, the SkyNaute navigation system delivers outstanding reliability, even in environments where satellite navigation signals are absent or jammed.
The APIRS attitude and heading reference system, largely proven in operation, provides vital flight control data to the helicopter in three axes: roll, heading and pitch. Based on fiber-optic gyros (FOG) and accelerometers using MEMS (micro-electromechanical system) technology, it features high reliability, easy integration in the airframe and self-calibration in flight.
The 4-axis trim actuators artificially reproduce flight control forces for helicopters. They provide load compensation by correcting the anchor point, along with damping and friction capabilities for precision force feedback and feeling. They can also be controlled through the autopilot.
With this selection for Tiger modernization, Safran Electronics & Defense ensures design synergies with other Airbus Helicopters: in particular, SkyNaute has been chosen for the Joint Light Helicopter (HIL) program, APIRS for the H160 and trim actuators on all of the company’s helicopters.
Safran’s Euroflir 510 multispectral optronic sight was already selected for the modernized Tiger in 2022, giving this helicopter state-of-the-art performance capabilities, especially in terms of ergonomic displays and weapon effectiveness.
About Safran
Safran is an international high-technology group operating in the aviation (propulsion, equipment and interiors), defense and space markets. Its core purpose is to contribute to a safer, more sustainable world, where air transport is more environmentally friendly, comfortable and accessible. Safran has a global presence, with 83,000 employees and sales of 19.0 billion euros in 2022, and holds, alone or in partnership, world or regional leadership positions in its core markets.
Safran Electronics & Defense is an international company with 10,000 employees, built on proven expertise in technologies that underpin sovereignty. By combining human and artificial intelligence, the company develops the products and services that empower aerospace and defense players to observe, decide and guide. Safran Electronics & Defense also supports fellow Safran companies by sharing its state-of-the-art electronics skills and expertise.
