French Army Takes Delivery of First 25 DRAC mini-UAV Systems

Released on Monday, June 30, 2008

The General Delegation for Armaments (DGA) has delivered Monday, June 30, 2008 the first 25 systems close-range reconnaissance Drones (DRAC) to the French Army. In addition, the DGA also notified on June 30 to EADS Defence & Security (DS) an order for 35 additional systems DRAC.

The DRAC is a mini drone very short-range last-generation consists of two airborne vehicles equipped with cameras visible and infrared communicating with a compact ground station using an automatic data link antenna. Equipped with a GPS, DRAC can operate up to 90 minutes and 10 km on the battlefield, day and night, while sending, in real time, images and information collected. Transported in two individual backpacks, DRAC allows to carry out missions in total autonomy.

This delivery marks the completion of the reception systems series conducted under the responsibility of the DGA and the beginning of the technical-operational testing conducted by the Technical Section of the Army for its operational implementation.

The DRAC program is conducted under the monitoring of the DGA, which has entrusted the management of EADS Defence & Security (DS. EADS DS manufactures the DRAC in partnership with SurveyCopter.