Paris Air Show 2023: New payloads for Schiebel S-300 UAV

Schiebel Camcopter S-100 unmanned aerial vehicle fitted with the Riegl VQ-840-G laser mapping device at the Paris Air Show 2023. (Janes/Olivia Savage)

Schiebel has exhibited a new airborne laser payload onboard its S-300 Camcopter unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) at the Paris Air Show 2023, held from 19 to 25 June.

The payload, dubbed VQ-840-G, is a compact airborne laser scanner developed by Riegl. The sensor is designed for high-resolution surveying of underwater topography with a narrow, visible green laser beam that penetrates water enabling measurement of submerged targets.

The S-300 is a larger variant compared with the S-100, which has greater endurance, payload-carrying capacity, and range. The UAV can be fitted with multiple payloads weighing up to 340 kg, has a datalink range of up to 200 km, and an endurance of up to 24 hours (with a 50 kg payload).

A Schiebel spokesperson told Janes the vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) UAV was fitted with the laser payload to demonstrate the system's payload-carrying capabilities. Schiebel also has a close relationship with Riegl, and has earlier integrated Riegl payloads on their UAVs, he added.