Achilles' Shield: Patrollers arrive in September and start working in the Aegean

Already, the donation of the Athanasios Laskaridis Public Benefit Foundation, which donated two complete advanced V-BAT type unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) systems to the Greek Armed Forces, i.e. a total of 4 vertical take-off/landing drones, immediately covered the need for "Category 2" drones, i.e. the second level, increasing deterrence capabilities, but also paving the way for the next big step.

Building day by day the infrastructure of the "Achilles Shield", the domestic production of "Category 1" unmanned aerial vehicles (drones), in parallel with the integration of the V-BAT systems into the Armed Forces, is coming to lock, according to information, at the end of September, the French "Category 3" UAV Patroller system, which is expected to assist the Army with surveillance and information collection.

According to military sources, the arrival of the two French UAV Patroller systems (4 aircraft in total) creates a “multi-layered coverage” on the one hand due to its sensors and on the other hand the long duration and range of its flights. In fact, if the unmanned aircraft, costing 53 million euros, are positioned proportionally in terms of territory coverage (for example, one in the north and one in the south of the country respectively), then the capabilities for Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) collection missions will operate multiplyingly.

At the same time, however, they are expected to operate in combination with another "Category 3" Heron-type unmanned aerial vehicle system, as well as together with 10 more "Category 2" V-BAT-type systems, for which the KYSEA recently gave the green light, radically changing the current surveillance data for the Greek Armed Forces.

15 hours of autonomy

It should be noted that the training process for the officers and future pilots of the Greek Armed Forces is underway, as this is a very dynamic unmanned aerial vehicle system, with a wingspan of 18 meters, a maximum takeoff weight of 1,050 kilograms, a payload of up to 250 kilograms, an autonomy of 15 hours, while at an altitude of up to 16,000 feet.

In practice, this means that the Patroller can provide coverage of an extended area of ​​information responsibility with only 2-3 flights during a 24-hour period, given that its range reaches 180-200 kilometers in line of sight (LOS) and up to 1,000 kilometers with a satellite link. Moreover, according to the manufacturer, Safran, the Patroller unmanned system is intended for intelligence, surveillance and targeting (ISTAR) missions in both off-territory operations and internal security and maritime surveillance missions thanks to its three strategic advantages.

Specifically, the Patroller system features: an advanced high-performance electro-optical sensor system, while also presenting a low cost per flight hour thanks to its simple gasoline engine. Moreover, it has official certification according to NATO airworthiness standards, an element that acquires particular added value in areas with intense air traffic, such as tourist and resort zones or island areas.