Schiebel Camcopter S-100 Attracts Interest of Southeast Asian Governments

SINGAPORE: Schiebel’s Camcopter S-100 has attracted the interest of several Southeast Asian countries for use as intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) platform including for Search and Rescue (SAR) missions.

The Vienna-based company has been active in the Asia-Pacific region for nearly two decades, attracting orders from several countries such as Australia, Malaysia, Thailand and South Korea.

A Schiebel official told Asian Defence Journal that the company is currently discussing with a Southeast Asian government for the supply of its Camcopter S-100 unmanned aerial system (UAS). “The company has responded to a recent Request for Proposal (RFP) for a requirement,” he said at the Singapore Airshow 2020.

Camcopter S-100 Deployed For Malaysia Pollution Crisis

Meanwhile, Schiebel’s CAMCOPTER S-100, supported by Three Tis Group, was deployed as a first emergency response providing critical situational information during the Kim Kim river toxic pollution crisis in Malaysia. Last year, more than two tons of illegal chemical waste was dumped in the Kim Kim river, which is located near the largest industrial area in the South of Malaysia, Johor Malaysia. As a result, toxic fumes were released throughout the adjoining area affecting more than 6,000 people with many being hospitalised and numerous schools being closed. The company said in a mid-January statement this year that the Malaysia Ministry of Energy, Science, Technology, Environment and Climate Change (MESTECC), in collaboration with Malaysian Armed Forces (MAF), called for a first emergency disaster response to analyse and scan the polluted river and adjoining area.

The CAMCOPTER S-100 was the Unmanned Air System (UAS) of choice and was deployed from March to September 2019 by MAF, supported by Schiebel’s partner Three Tis Group, to gain situational information of the affected area. The UAS was operated by day and night for a total of approximately 30 flight hours. The CAMCOPTER S-100 was equipped with FLIR Systems Star SAFIRE 380-HDc, which delivers stabilised multi-spectral imaging and intelligence functions. “The CAMCOPTER S-100 is perfectly suited for emergency response in crisis situations. Given its small size and innovative technology it is capable of flying in difficult terrain whilst collecting valuable data,” said Tunku Ahmad Zahir Bin Tunku Ibrahim, Managing Director at Three Tis Group.

Camcopter S-100 UAS Contract With Royal Thai Navy

Last November, Schiebel won a competitive tender to supply its CAMCOPTER S-100 System to the Royal Thai Navy (RTN). Following an extensive competitive tender process, Schiebel was awarded its first contract with the RTN, which was signed by Schiebel’s CEO Hannes Hecher and Admiral Prachachart Sirisawat, Director General Naval Acquisition Management office of the Royal Thai Navy, and authorised by Commander In Chief of Royal Thai Navy Headquarters in Bangkok. Schiebel’s CAMCOPTER S-100 will be deployed in 2020 to the Pakphanang District, in the province of Nakhon Si Thammarat in Thailand and on the RTN frigate fleet to deliver land and sea-based Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) operations. This is the first time the RTN will be using Vertical Take-Off and Landing (VTOL) Unmanned Air Systems (UAS) for maritime operations. To ensure a smooth transition into service and to provide commercial offset, Schiebel has partnered with MoraThai Defence Company Limited of Bangkok. “With the Royal Thai Navy, we have another major maritime contract to add to our growing list of customers. Our CAMCOPTER S-100 is recognised for being a reliable and proven UAS, especially at sea, which is why we outpaced all other UAS suppliers in the competitive tender process,” said Hans Georg Schiebel, Chairman of the Schiebel Group.