Under the Hub for European Defence Innovation (HEDI), EDA has established the “Autonomous Systems for Cross-Domain Logistics (Air and Land)” programme and selected Schiebel’s CAMCOPTER S-100 for the heavy-lift Vertical Takeoff and Landing (VTOL) Unmanned Air System category.
The large-scale initiative hosted by the Italian Army will focus on collaborative experimentation of UAS and Unmanned Ground Systems (UGS). In June and July 2025, several simulated missions, e.g. last-mile resupply in hostile environments, will be demonstrated. The CAMCOPTER S-100 was selected for the above 50kg payload category, and will conduct the trials together with two smaller UAS and three UGS.
The role of autonomous systems in today’s military is increasingly requiring interoperability, particularly for cross-domain operations and logistical support, significantly enhancing efficiency and effectiveness in challenging environments.
HEDI aims at accelerating and streamlining the integration of emerging technologies into military applications through immersive operational and technical field testing in a collaborative and agile environment.
“This programme, which is the first of its kind by EDA, closely follows three other tenders won by Schiebel in the European Union, including a new contract for the European Maritime Safety Agency, as well as the European Defence Fund’s SEACURE and OPTIMAS consortiums. With its unrivalled experience, maturity and proven performance, the S-100 is the logical choice and we’re looking forward to showcase our capabilities at the upcoming experimentation,” said Hans Georg Schiebel, Chairman of the Schiebel Group.
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Can anyone shed light on way this capability was cancelled ? A friend who serves with the RAN 822 Sqn was at a loss as all the operators he spoke to loved them. I know some top Brass make stupid calls and can’t help sticking their nose into projects they know nothing about but there is usually some sort of reason given but nobody seems to know why or if the know aren’t saying.
No one has any idea – Defence and the RAN refuse point blank to answer a single question.
I am not sure but it may have something to do with China and Russia’s involvement.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-09-21/labor-to-carefully-consider-controversial-drone-deal/101459850
“In recent years the S-100 Camcopters have been purchased by China’s military for use on the PLA-Navy’s guided missile destroyers, and have been under licence by Russia for civilian use.”
That may have been a factor but it’s also being used by the RN and by several European nations in a variety of security and naval roles and we put a lot of work into getting them to develop a heavy fuel version.
It’s a very capable bit of kit and I’m sure any other drone we eventually decide to use off RAN ships will be equally prone to hacking by the CCP.
Simple fact of life, we spent a lot of money on them, we spent a lot of time on them, Schiebel was very responsive to our needs and it fulfilled its role very well and is now even being developed for anti sub warfare as part of EDF work.
We were in on the ground floor then for no apparent reason turned our back on all the work done and ended up with nothing
That’s a good summary of the situation. The last time I checked, RAN hadn’t even bothered with the usual courtesy of giving either Schiebel or Raytheon Australia a debrief.
It pays to keep in touch…. A mates sisters boyfriends mother told me that Sea129 and Land 129 had been teamed and a request is to submitted to Government. The S100 Camcopter is mentioned by name.. so you may want to investigate Kim, if true ( you know what the Navy is like with rumours) it is great that someone has turned on a light.