Long-range UAS developed by Thales

Unmanned air systems are anticipated to have significant commercial potential, with hundreds of thousands of drones due to enter service over the next 10 years. As a result, airspace management and the aerospace ecosystem will become considerably more complex, creating new safety and security challenges, and obliging civil aviation authorities to tighten their regulatory demands. To meet these challenges, Thales is proposing a long-range, long-endurance UAS, capable of meeting future flight safety, security and certification requirements.

The UAS is intended to meet the needs of coastal and border surveillance and event security to search and rescue and military operations, while operating in full compliance with general aviation regulations. Its flight avionics combine the certified levels of flight safety and security of Thales's solutions for the aerospace sector with the low weight and compact design needed for integration on board a light UAV.

Reducing operating costs

The Thales solution will meet the requirements of the new European SC-LUAS (Special Condition Light Unmanned Aircraft Systems) regulations. The system will reduce operating costs and improve the environmental footprint of drones, opening up new opportunities for inspection and surveillance operations and expanding the capabilities of government services and the armed forces.

Last year, overhauled helicopter parts distributor Helinetwork International has signed a distribution agreement with Thales.