The new systems will be deployed on Frégates Européennes Multi-Mission vessels and integrated using the Steeris MS mission management system. Deliveries are scheduled to begin in 2026 and will take place progressively.
Each system includes two unmanned air vehicles, increasing the French Navy’s total fleet to eight systems once deliveries are completed. The expansion builds on more than a decade of operational use of the platform.
The French Navy has operated the Camcopter S-100 at sea since 2012. It was first integrated aboard the Gowind-class offshore patrol vessel L’Adroit.
In 2019, the system was deployed on the Mistral-class amphibious helicopter carrier Dixmude. This marked the first operational integration of a rotary-wing unmanned air system into a European naval combat management system.
The capability was further expanded in 2020 with the acquisition of two additional systems. These were deployed aboard the Mistral and Tonnerre vessels.
The Camcopter S-100 provides intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities for maritime operations. It can operate from naval platforms without requiring launch or recovery equipment.
Its compact design allows deployment across different ship classes and mission types. The system is designed to operate in a wide range of environmental conditions.
Lubos Sramek, Director of Schiebel Aéronaval SAS, said the follow-on order reflects operational confidence. “The French Navy was among the first European naval forces to operationally integrate the Camcopter S-100 into its shipborne operations,” he said.
“This follow-on order reflects the system’s capabilities, as well as maturity and the confidence placed in its performance at sea,” Sramek added. He said the company remains committed to supporting the French Navy with an operationally proven system.
“We are proud to continue supporting the French Navy with a proven and operationally deployed VTOL UAS,” he said. The company highlighted the system’s continued role in naval operations.
Schiebel said the Camcopter S-100 has established a track record across military, commercial and humanitarian applications. The platform is designed for day and night operations, including in adverse weather conditions.
The system is capable of beyond line-of-sight operations over both land and sea. It supports real-time transmission of high-definition imagery to control stations.
The latest order reinforces the French Navy’s investment in unmanned aviation capabilities. It also reflects continued integration of such systems into modern naval operations.
