Barkhane: imminent deployment of the mini-drone reconnaissance system
The STAT (technical section of the army) revealed that the SMDR (system of mini-drones for reconnaissance) will be deployed in the coming days in the Sahelian theater.
Barkhane.
The technical section of the Army received the AJD (association of professional defense journalists) on Wednesday, December 9 on the Satory plateau. On this occasion, General Vidaud, commander of the STAT, announced that the SMDR, a mini-drone reconnaissance system, will be deployed in operation in the coming days, before the end of December. The SMDR and the brand team that will accompany it will thus be projected on the theater of Operation Barkhane. The projection time for STAT teams is estimated at one month, but could change depending on the needs on site.
Operational employment.
The deployment of the SMDR by a STAT team will make it possible to "verify that the equipment can be used in an operational manner", explains General Vidaud. The ambition is therefore to be able to transfer equipment to the forces while supporting them in this process, through support from STAT teams. This will therefore represent the last step in the operationalization of the SMDR before its complete transfer to the Army. Evaluated by the STAT intelligence group, the SMDR is eagerly awaited by the forces. The mini-drone reconnaissance systems "will be implemented by the mini-drone sections of the acquisition and surveillance batteries of the artillery regiments and by the 61st artillery regiment", detailed last June the DGA.
While the program was delayed since the first systems were expected for 2019, the DGA announced on June 16, during the delivery to the Army of the first three systems (a system corresponding to three drones and a ground station ), operational deployment before the end of 2020. A commitment barely met.
Modernization of intelligence resources.
The SMDR will thus replace the DRAC (contact reconnaissance drone), which entered service in 2008. This renewal of resources will provide the Army with more efficient means. While the DRAC had one hour of autonomy for 10 km of range, the SMDR can carry out missions of three hours, for 30 km of range. In total, 35 systems have been ordered by the Ministry of the Armed Forces. “Deploying drones such as the Patroller or the SMDR on Barkhane is saving lives. Surveillance resources are lacking in BSS ”, declared in our columns Colonel Marc Bonnet, corps commander of the 61st RA, last June.