Sagem to Supply Interface Bays for French Army

The French defence procurement agency, DGA, has awarded a contract to Sagem for a Nato-standard interface bay for the French Army's Sperwer tactical drone systems deployed in Afghanistan.

The bays will be installed in the ground control stations to allow the Sperwer drone system to transmit real-time geo-referenced video streams over French and allied command and intelligence networks.

The new capability along with the Sperwer system will optimise information sharing and quality of intelligence gathered to integrate France's intelligence interpretation system, command system and Atlas and artillery coordination system.

The transmission of the STANAG 4609 standard is a basic feature of Sagem's drone systems, including the Sperwer mkII tactical drone and the Patroller long-endurance drone.