French MOD orders fourth Harfang drone from EADS

The Directorate General of Armaments (DGA) on December 31, 2009 awarded to EADS an order for the acquisition of a fourth “Harfang” drone and a third ground control station as part of the SIDM – Système Intérimaire de Drone MALE, or Interim Medium Altitude, Long Endurance (MALE) Drone System – program. This award, worth 33.7 million euros inclusive of tax, has been made under an urgent requirement procedure, following a requirement issued by the defence staff on July 3, 2009. These new equipments will complement the first three aerial vehicles and two ground control stations already in service with the Air Force. Delivered in the summer of 2010 to the Adour squadron, based in Cognac (Charente), the new aerial vehicle and ground control station will be used to train operators and will be used to contribute to aviation security arrangements put in place on national territory at national events (major sporting events, gathering information for disaster relief, etc ...). The SIDM program is dedicated to surveillance, reconnaissance, target designation and laser illumination missions over hostile territory. The diversity of its observation capabilities - optical, infrared and radar - allows the SIDM to be operational by day and night, and in all weathers. Thanks to its satellite data link, it can operate in the depth of the theater, with a range of over a thousand kilometers, and transmit in real time the information it has collected. The high endurance of SIDM is its ability to simultaneously manage two Harfang drones which relay each other over the operations area to ensure a continual presence if required by the mission, as each aerial vehicle can remain in the air for 24 hours without refueling.