(Safran) and Egyptian manufacturer AOI-Aircraft Factory have signed an exclusive commercial and industrial collaboration agreement concerning the Patroller surveillance drone system, to address the requirements of the Egyptian Ministry of Defence.
According to the terms of this agreement, AOI-Aircraft Factory could handle final assembly of Patroller drones in its Egyptian plants. The agreement also covers system support and commissioning. AOI-Aircraft Factory will develop a dedicated training center in Egypt to train staff for the operation and maintenance of Sagem’s drone systems.
Developed in France by Sagem, the Patroller is a versatile long-endurance tactical drone system. It features an open, modular design to handle a broad spectrum of military and security missions, while carrying a multi-sensor payload of up to 250 kg, fuselage or pod-mounted. The Patroller offers endurance of more than 20 hours, and an operating ceiling of 20,000 feet. Sagem has already conducted a flight demonstration on Patroller showing the simultaneous operation of different sensors: optronic (electro-optical) pod, radar, electronic warfare (EW) system, distress beacon detector and automatic identification system (AIS) receiver.
The Patroller’s design draws on ten years of experience with Sagem’s Sperwer drone system to support operations in Afghanistan.
The AOI-Aircraft Factory is part of Egypt’s state-owned Arab Organisation for Industrialisation (AOI) and is probably best known for assembling CATIC K-8 jet trainers for the Egyptian Air Force. It also produces ASN-209 UAVs: a type developed by China’s Xi’an Aisheng Technology Group Company.
Source: Press Release