After a preliminary development phase, the Navy will receive three Sea Falcon drone systems for its K130 corvettes from 2024. The Federal Office for Equipment, Information Technology and Use of the Bundeswehr (BAAINBw) has now announced the conclusion of a corresponding contract with the main contractor Elektroniksystem- und Logistik-GmbH (ESG). This implements the “Reconnaissance and Identification in the Maritime Area of Operations (AImEG)” project to expand the corvettes’ capabilities for imaging reconnaissance. The ESG leads a consortium made up of the manufacturer and supplier of the aircraft, UMS Skeldar Sweden, the manufacturer of the corvette, NVL BV & Co. KG (formerly Fr. Lürssen Werft GmbH & Co. KG), and the aviation electronics manufacturer CUONICS.
According to the BAAINBw announcement, a Sea Falcon drone system consists of two Skeldar V-200 aircraft and a ground control station. The contract also provides for the delivery of spare parts, the initial training of technical and aviation personnel and the establishment of a training site for the system on land within the next four years.
The system enables the corvettes to reconnaissance and identify maritime targets beyond the range of the on-board optical sensors. Due to its low visual and acoustic signature - especially when flying at night - the Navy receives a significant increase in its ability to combat piracy and arms smuggling by sea.
According to ESG, a complete drone system will be integrated into a corvette in the pilot phase, the need for adaptation will be realized and the system approved. There is also initial training for Bundeswehr personnel. A special feature of the adaptation developments is the expansion of the so-called “safety-critical chain” to include additional functionalities, which is concluded with military approval. The safety critical chain ensures that the aircraft cannot leave a designated operational area.
In der Serienphase werde ein System in eine weitere Korvette integriert und eines für landbasierte Ausbildung aufgebaut. Darüber hinaus werden drei Rüstsätze für die zukünftige Vorrüstung weiterer Korvetten zur Aufnahme eines UAS geliefert.
The Sea Falcon is a vertical take-off drone that weighs 235 kg (maximum take-off weight) and is powered by a 41 kW two-cylinder engine. It can take off and land automatically in wind speeds of up to 46 km/h and waves up to Seastate 3. This means it reaches a service ceiling of 3,000 meters. The operational range for up to six hours of flight is 100 km with a maximum speed of 140 km/h. The payload is specified as 40 kg. The Sea Falcon is equipped with an observation tower in which electro-optical sensors for images in the optical and infrared range are integrated. These are transmitted to the ground control station in real time. The Sea Falcon also has a camera for looking ahead.
In April 2021, the Bundestag committees for defense and budget gave their approval for the project as part of a 25 million euro proposal. (ESuTreported) The project is budgeted at a total of 80.3 million euros. The majority of 52.6 million euros is earmarked for development in the pilot phase until 2023. The procurement of the systems and their integration on board the corvettes in 2024 and 2025 will cost 27.7 million euros.
On the occasion of the conclusion of the contract, the responsible project manager at BAAINBw said: “The pilot phase preceding series procurement gives us the opportunity to demonstrate the high demands placed on reconnaissance and identification in the maritime operational area in an integrated process in a quality-assured manner. In this way, we ensure that a high level of planning security is guaranteed throughout the entire project.”
Editors / gwh
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