Aero India 2023: Schiebel, VEM pitch Camcopter S-100 to Indian Navy

The Camcopter S-100 with roundel of India displayed at the Aero India 2023 show in Bangalore. (Janes/Akshara Parakala)

Schiebel Systems India and VEM Technologies have showcased the Camcopter S-100 unmanned aircraft system (UAS) featuring the script of the Indian Navy and the roundel of India on the airframe at the Aero India 2023 show in Bangalore, which was held from 13 to 17 February.

Schiebel Systems India – a subsidiary of Schiebel Corporation, the original equipment manufacturer of the S-100 UAS – and local firm VEM Technologies are understood to have jointly submitted a response to the Indian Navy's request for information (RFI) to procure 40 Naval Shipborne Unmanned Aerial Systems (NSUAS). The Indian Navy intends to deploy the NSUAS on naval vessels over 100 m in length.

In the RFI, issued in June 2022, the Indian Ministry of Defence (MoD) and the Indian Navy said the NSUAS will be used for surveillance missions, signals intelligence (SIGINT), target acquisition, reconnaissance, and maritime domain awareness around a naval task group. Secondary roles include anti-piracy measures, anti-terrorist activities, and search-and-rescue support.

The MoD and the Indian Navy are expected to complete evaluations of platforms bidding for the NSUAS programme by March 2023. As part of an earlier procurement programme, the Indian Navy has trialled the S-100.

In response to the new Indian Navy requirement, Schiebel Systems India and VEM Technologies plan to produce the vertical take-off and landing (VTOL)-capable S-100 along with the assembly and integration of payloads. Schiebel Corporation said it will seek to maximise local content.

Jajati Mohanty, the CEO of Schiebel Systems India, told Janes,