Special to WorldTribune.com

LONDON — The European Union plans to increase surveillance over illegal migration through a new unmanned aerial vehicle.

The EU’s Frontex frontier surveillance force has demonstrated the S-100 UAV for operations in the Mediterranean Sea.

The French Navy deployed the S-100, also produced in the United Arab Emirates, on the L’Adroit offshore patrol vessel as part of procurement plans for maritime security missions.

“During the surveillance mission on the borders of the European Union conducted by our B crew in September, L’Adroit was able to monitor an area twice as large as would have been possible without the UAV,” a French Navy captain said.

In mid-December, L’Adroit returned to port after a week of S-100 trials. The S-100 was described as a multi-sensor rotary-wing UAV with enhanced flight-control software and a combat management system.

“Thanks to its optical camera and long battery life, you can see beyond the horizon, which greatly increases the patrol potential of the ship,” the L’Adroit captain, identified only as Regnier, said.

The S-100 has been developed and produced by Austria’s Schiebel. The
UAV, designed to contain a synthetic aperture radar, has been co-produced by
the UAE for use by the Gulf Cooperation Council military. The UAE, the first
export client, has ordered 40 of the vertical take off and landing unmanned
platforms.

“These tests are very valuable to participants of the UAV trials, which
can currently only be implemented from a navy ship at sea equipped with
radio communications allowing the operator to communicate with the UAV,” the
French Navy said on Dec. 17.

  EU drones double surveillance area for illegal migration through the Mediterranean, L’Adroit, Mediterranean Sea, S-100, Schiebel