Commercial, Military

France to Introduce New UAV Reconnaissance Technology in 2018 

By Woodrow Bellamy III  | January 10, 2017
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[Avionics Magazine 01-10-2017] The French Defense Procurement Agency (DGA) will equip French forces with a new mini surveillance and reconnaissance Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV), the Thales Spy’Ranger. Under a new contract, Thales will provide French forces up to 210 mini reconnaissance UAVs. 
 
 
Thales Spy’ Ranger UAV. Photo: Thales.
 
Thales calls the Spy’Ranger a new “eye in the sky” for the French combined arms tactical group, which is able to be operated in standalone mode or connected to a C4I system. 
 
The armed forces require real-time access to ever more reliable imagery. Spy’Ranger will provide them with a decisive tactical advantage by offering the capacity to observe day or night, for long periods of time and at a distance of up to 30 km. Spy’Ranger is used in particular to carry out the following missions: provide support to a combined arms tactical group maneuver or to an offensive reconnaissance mission; provide a cover mechanism, support the neutralization of strong points; and contribute to firing maneuvers by providing a “remote airborne eye” able to adjust shooting rounds on a target.

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