Thales Launches Fulmar X Flexible UAV System

Thales has announced the launch of Fulmar X, an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) system designed to meet the needs of both military and civil customers in order to suit a wide range of surveillance missions, such as border surveillance, natural disasters, and illegal traffic monitoring. Fulmar X delivers high endurance and high-quality aerial intelligence using a small, flexible air platform with low running costs.

The Fulmar X system’s capabilities include an endurance of over 8 hours and an operating range of more than 80 km. Built entirely from carbon fibre composite, the UAV has a 3 metre wingspan. It is launched using a catapult and recovered automatically with a net, which can be operated in very confined areas such as a ship or vehicle. The recovery system is available in a number of configurations for quick, easy deployment from a fixed location with no dedicated infrastructure.

“The Fulmar X system from Thales provides an excellent balance between performance and ease of operational deployment. Its modular architecture supports multiple configurations so the system is suitable for a broad range of surveillance missions yet remains extremely competitive in terms of operating costs,” commented Pierre Eric Pommellet, Thales Executive Vice-President, Defence Mission Systems.

The UAV carries a combined EO/IR sensor so that operations can continue into the night. With its modular design, the Fulmar X system can readily be fitted with other equipment such as AIS automatic identification system or Mode 3/C transponder to meet the requirements of each customer and mission.

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Fulmar X makes extensive use of off-the-shelf technology to benefit from the latest developments in sensors and engines, while complying with the highest standards of reliability and safety. Deployed as a stand-alone system or fully integrated to wider surveillance systems, Fulmar X is also designed to share its intelligence.