Thales has completed the first flight of a half-scale prototype of its UAS 100 long-range unmanned air system. Developed in partnership with Issoire Aviation and Hionos, and with the support of the French Ministry of the Armed Forces via the Defence Innovation Agency (AID), UAS100 will help meet the demand for more cost-effective drone missions with a lower environmental impact.
From infrastructure inspection, coastal surveillance, border surveillance and event security to search-and-rescue and military operations, UAS100 will meet mission requirements 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 to onboard a light UAV.
The UAS 100 system will offer range capabilities above 100 km. Its jam-resistant navigation system will ensure safe operation even in dense or cluttered electromagnetic environments. It is powered by two electric motors and an internal combustion engine, guaranteeing the discretion needed to accomplish its missions and operate over populated areas while ensuring the necessary endurance and resilience to failure.
