The rise of Asian rotary-wing UAVs By David Oliver
The Royal Australian Navy’s 822X Squadron operates Schiebel Camcopter S-100 vertical take-off and landing unmanned air systems. © RAN
Australia has been at the forefront of maritime unmanned capabilities development and evaluation. The Royal Australian Navy (RAN) Unmanned Aircraft Systems Development Unit (NUASDU) was formed in 2012 with the purpose of developing an in-depth understanding of the potential capabilities of Maritime Unmanned Aerial Systems (MUAS). RAN’s 822X Squadron was commissioned in October 2018, its mission to conduct experimentation and evaluation activities with contemporary UAS and advanced payloads to develop operational knowledge and experience, and procedures supporting safe maritime UAS operations for the future Fleet. In February 2017, the RAN awarded a contract to provide an unrevealed number of Schiebel Camcopter S-100 vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) UAS, plus three-years support to be operated by 822X Squadron.
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EDR | July/August 2021
