The S-100 Camcopter being recovered on HMAS Ballarat’s flight deck. Credit: LEUT Michael/Markus Winhofer/ Royal Australian Navy.

The Royal Australian Navy’s (RAN) Anzac Class frigate, HMAS Ballarat, and an S-100 Camcopter Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) have conducted flight trials.

The test focused on the launch and retrieval of the 200kg S-100 Camcopter UAV at sea. It was conducted off the Eastern coast of Australia.

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RAN’s 822X Squadron personnel and from the Aircraft Maintenance and Flight Trials Unit (AMAFTU) test specialists were deployed on the 118m-long frigate to collect data.

The trials offered an opportunity to learn how to integrate the UAV’s payload capacity with the frigate’s warfare capabilities.

Trial director lieutenant commander Hamilton said: “The deployment of unmanned systems at sea will become a more common theme in modern maritime warfare, especially with the advent and continued development of artificial intelligence and robotic or autonomous systems.

“Maximising their ability to safely operate in a variety of environmental conditions is fundamental to their operational utility and making them a force multiplier.”

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S-100 Camcopter is a vertical take-off and landing UAV capable of carrying a range of payloads.

It is designed to remain airborne for several hours and travel at a speed of 100km/h.

The UAV can be deployed to support missions such as surface, amphibious or anti-submarine warfare. It could be used for search and rescue, humanitarian assistance, and disaster relief operations.

822X Squadron flight commander lieutenant Michael Mulquiney said: “The introduction of unmanned aviation operations at sea is a paradigm shift for the navy and it will enable us to detect threats at greater ranges and better defend our ships and give us enhanced situational awareness.”