Defence

Schiebel will provide a Camcopter S-100 unmanned helicopter to test a new sensor payload dedicated to detecting improvised explosive devices (IED).

The S-100 will be equipped with two sensors being designed by CenTauri Solutions. One is a high-definition electro-optical camera and the other an "unintentional electromagnetic emissions detector", Schiebel says.

The sensor package's performance will be evaluated under an $11 million project codenamed "Yellow Jacket", which is being led by the US Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) to support the Joint Improvised Explosive Device Defeat Organization.

The AFRL awarded the contract to CenTauri, which in turn selected the S-100 as the vehicle. It was not immediately clear if CenTauri has purchased or leased the Schiebel aircraft.

The S-100 Camcopter was originally proposed in the late 1990s to the US Army for detecting minefields. The unmanned rotorcraft is capable of flying for up to 6h with a 34kg (75lb) payload.