As India celebrates its 76th Independence Day on August 15, Schiebel India commits itself to the theme – Nation First, Always First along with fellow Indians. Aiming to seize the billion-dollar opportunities presented by the Indian market, Schiebel’s India foray was aligned with India’s transformative journey to achieve Aatmanirbharta in Defence right from the beginning.
Partnering with an established manufacturer committed to the “Made in India” mandate, Schiebel has started manufacturing the CAMCOPTER® S-100 and its payloads under the Buy (India) category, with up to 60% indigenisation content. The partnership focuses on developing the necessary integration and testing skills for the CAMCOPTER® S-100 in India, establishing a robust ecosystem capable of sustaining the platform for 15 years or more. Schiebel India, along with the production facility in collaboration with VEM Technologies, ensures efficient and effective fulfillment of future customer needs in the Indian subcontinent.
Schiebel’s business strategy in India is to support and grow alongside the Indian industry, generating job opportunities, advancing technology, and offering the best VTOL UAS available globally. The company continually seeks to expand and strengthen its network as part of its growth strategy.
The full-scale model of the CAMCOPTER® S-100 @ Aero India 2023 generated significant interest among potential military customers, providing Schiebel with valuable insights into India’s unmanned landscape and the market’s growth potential.
Under the Naval Ship-borne Unmanned Aerial System (NSUAS) Fast Track Programme, Schiebel Inda aims to deliver a proven tactical maritime ISR capability at sea, marking a new chapter in tactical exploitation and maritime capability enhancement for the Indian Navy.
The company aims to collaborate with the Indian Coastguard for ISR and SAR operations, as well as the Indian Army for operational logistics support. Additionally, Schiebel India is keen to tap the opportunities being offered by the Indian companies in the oil and gas sector – seeking to enhance their UAS capabilities and are interested in exploring Rotary VTOL options.
UAS have proven highly effective in supporting armed forces with ISR and load lifting tasks, including delivering supplies to remote areas. Among the available solutions, the CAMCOPTER® S-100 stands out as a mature and reliable VTOL aircraft for the Indian Armed Forces. With almost twenty years of operational experience, the CAMCOPTER® S-100 is the only tactical VTOL UAS in its class, serving as a trusted workhorse in multi-role ISR.
The unmanned drone industry in India is poised for significant growth in the coming decade, playing a crucial role in the country’s development. In modern warfare, Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) are essential, and Unmanned Air Systems (UAS) have gained global attention as nations compete to stay ahead.
Well positioned to the growing need for Manned Unmanned Teaming (MUM-T), Schiebel’s unmanned CAMCOPTER® S-100 combines with the capabilities of manned helicopters like ALH, Sea Kings, MH-60R. Having demonstrated its capabilities with Airbus manned helicopters, the CAMCOPTER® S-100 is presently the only Rotary UAS cleared for LOI-5 and offers numerous opportunities for integration with various manned helicopters, enabling ISR and Search and Rescue (SAR) operations. Highlighting the unique challenges faced by the Indian Armed Forces due to diverse terrains and unpredictable weather conditions at sea and along the borders, Jajati Mohanty, the CEO of Schiebel India firmly believes that the CAMCOPTER® S-100’s outstanding range and endurance make it an ideal companion for the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Coast Guard.
Schiebel focuses primarily on the development, design, and production of the CAMCOPTER® S-100 as a global operator. The company has earned a reliable reputation for manufacturing high-tech military, commercial, and humanitarian products, coupled with exceptional after-sales service and support.
The CAMCOPTER® S-100 is a versatile UAS designed for various domains, including navies, armies, and air forces. It serves as a payload-agnostic unmanned aircraft, enabling customers to enhance their existing capabilities with cost-effective ISR, SAR, environmental protection, vessel detection, cargo delivery, and more.
With over 20 years of experience and several hundred UAVs delivered worldwide, Schiebel is a market leader in rotary UAS. The company invests 20% of its annual revenue in research and development, prioritising customer needs and incorporating feedback to continuously improve the CAMCOPTER® S-100 using cutting-edge materials and technology.
Schiebel’s reputation as a producer of high-tech military, commercial, and humanitarian products has been solidified over the years. In October 2022, the company unveiled the CAMCOPTER® S-300, a larger version of the S-100, at Euronaval in Paris.
Demonstrating impressive capabilities of the CAMCOPTER® S-100, Schiebel secured the UK Ministry of Defence contract “Peregrine” in partnership with Thales. Under this contract, Schiebel will provide the CAMCOPTER® S-100 UAS equipped with a powerful naval surveillance sensor suite, enhancing the maritime capabilities and protecting Royal Navy ships during operational tasks.
Schiebel has also been contracted by the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) to support emission monitoring and maritime surveillance in northern France. The CAMCOPTER® S-100’s contribution to monitoring maritime activities in one of the world’s busiest shipping lanes highlights its effectiveness, with EMSA being one of Schiebel’s esteemed customers.
In all, Schiebel’s commitment to research and development, along with its extensive experience in the field, positions the company as a global leader in advanced UAS technology along with being a reliable partner to realise India’s self-reliance quest.
