The Patroller tactical drone system, developed and produced by Safran Electronics & Defense,carried out a series of flight tests this past summer in Finland. These tests were part of the tactical drone system (SDT) program conducted by French defense procurement agency DGA (DirectionGénérale de l’Armement) as contracting authority. The successful test program was witnessed byrepresentatives of the DGA and the French Army.
A major step towards the industrial qualification of the Patroller tactical drone system, this flight testprogram showed the maturity, quality and operational capabilities of the Patroller and its two mainpayloads: the Euroflir™410 optronic (electro-optical) pod and a surveillance radar. The Patrollerreflects Safran Electronics & Defense’s expertise in observation, guidance and decision systems,making it an advanced intelligence asset for the army. It supports the fusion of data from the twopayloads to enhance their effectiveness and allow the drone to play a full-fledged role in thecollaborative battlefield.
The program logged some 76 flight-hours in 21 flights and met all objectives: endurance flights inthe 14-hour class, optronic and radar payload performance, simultaneous and real-time operationof the payloads, automatic takeoff and landing, mission management, low-noise operation,availability and ease of operation.
Safran Robonic, the Finnish subsidiary of Safran Electronics & Defense, facilitated the test programand also procured the required flight authorizations from the Finnish civil aviation authority, Traficom.Patroller will carry out intelligence missions for armies. It gives tactical units an unrivaled ability toperform surveillance, data acquisition, reconnaissance and intelligence missions. A long-endurancedrone system, it deploys an array of sensors to detect, survey, identify and locate threats discretely,at long range and day or night. Patroller is one of the first drone systems that will be officially certifiedunder the NATO standard for this category of UAV.
Safran is an international high-technology group, operating in the aviation (propulsion, equipment andinteriors), 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 76,000 employees and sales of 16.5 billion euros in 2020 and holds, alone or in partnership, world orregional leadership positions in its core markets. Safran is listed on the Euronext Paris stock exchange, and ispart of the CAC 40 and Euro Stoxx 50 indices.
Safran Electronics & Defense is a world leader in the supply of solutions and services in optronics, avionics,electronics and critical software for both civil and military markets. The company equips more than 1,000 ships,25,000 land vehicles and 10,000 aircraft worldwide.
