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Raytheon teams up with Schiebel for Australian Army tactical UAS bid

S-100 UAS for Australian Army
Photo: Schiebel

Raytheon Australia and the Australian branch of Austrian unmanned aerial system specialist Schiebel Pacific announced they are joining forces in a bid to secure the Australian Army LAND129 Phase 3 tactical unmanned aerial system (TUAS) project.

According to Schiebel, the duo submitted their tender response last week.

The teaming couples Schiebel’s Campcoter S-100 UAS with Raytheon Australia’s experience as prime systems integrator across multiple domains.

“We are very confident that the capability of the CAMCOPTER® S-100, together with the proposed integration into existing ADF systems, is the best solution for the Australian Army,” Fabian Knechtl, Managing Director of Schiebel Pacific, said.

“We are fully committed to the Australian government’s policy on Australian industry capability (AIC) and have already started the ‘transfer of knowledge’ to our local entity and our partners.”

The vertical take off and landing (VTOL) UAS S-100 has a small footprint and the ability to operate from confined areas. It needs no prepared area or supporting equipment for take-off and landing and it can be set up and ready in 20 minutes.

Schiebel has already supplied the Royal Australian Navy with the S-100. The navy acquired the S-100 in late 2016 to broaden its understanding of VTOL UAS. The system was accepted into service in April 2018.

Australia’s Shadow UAS replacement

The Australian government launched project LAND 129 Phase 3 with aim of replacing the Shadow 200 TUAS which was acquired in 2011.

A total of four companies have been shortlisted to tender for the project: Insitu Pacific, Leidos Australia, Raytheon, and Textron Systems Australia Pty Ltd.

Leidos Australia announced earlier this year it would partner with Israel’s Aeronautics for the tender.