In an unique interview with Naval News at DEFEA 2025, Lubos Sramek, Sales Director for Europe at Schiebel, shared crucial insights into the S-100 CAMCOPTER Vertical Takeoff and Landing Unmanned Air System, which is set to equip Hellenic Navys future Kimon -class (FDI HN) frigates.The S-100, CAMCOPTER established by Austrian producer Schiebel, has been picked for combination with Naval Groups SETIS battle management system (CMS) aboard Greek FDI frigates, substantially improving the ships functional capabilities throughout numerous domains.
While the contract has not yet been signed, it is expected to be finalized in the coming months.Naval News: Canyoupleasetelluswhy the S-100 is the very best choice for the Hellenic Navy?Lubos Sramek: For modern navies, rotary-wing airplane remain the natural option for multi-role operations at sea.
Schiebel is the world leader in rotary UASwith unrivalled experience.
Schiebels S-100 Camcopter, a high-performance unmanned aerial system (UAS), stands out as the only unmanned helicopter presently in both serial production and operational service.
With over 540 systems produced, it has become a favored option for maritime forces worldwide.
The first helicopter for Hellenic Navy will be number 545! The S-100s will be perfectly incorporated with the FDIs CMS, allowing full functional interoperability.
With these new tools, the Hellenic Navy will increase the security, detection and recognition abilities of its surface area vessels significantly.
The S-100 will execute these tasks geared up with an L3 Wescam Electro-Optical/ Infra-Red (EO/IR) camera gimbal, an Overwatch Imaging PT-8 Oceanwatch payload and an Automatic Identification System (AIS) receiver.In March 2025, Greek MoD Nikos Dendias went to the UAS Schiebel manufacturing facility in Austria, where he was given a tour by the Managing Director and owner of the Company, Hans Georg Schiebel.
He was likewise offered a presentation of the S-100 UAS that will equip the Greek FDI frigates.
In the photo the first S-100 for the Hellenic Navy.
Picture by Nikos Dendias on LinkedInNaval News: Could you elaborate on how the S-100 UAV is being integrated with the FDI frigates?Lubos Sramek: Naval Group has comprehensive experience incorporating the S-100 system throughout its platforms.
The Camcopter has already been effectively incorporated on Gowind-class offshore patrol vessels (OPVs) and all Mistral-class landing helicopter docks (LHDs), consisting of those run by Egypt (In 2019, the French LHD Dixmude ended up being the first European shipthat totally integrated a rotary wing UAV to its CMS).
For the Hellenic Navy, the S-100 has actually been chosen for operation aboard the brand-new FDI HN frigates.
These ships are being built with complete provisions for the system from the start, enabling seamless combination with the SETIS CMS and enabling the UAS to provide its complete functional capacity in real time.Inside the FDIs PSIM mast cone, a dedicated communications antenna is pre-installed, similar to that of the Gowind-class overseas patrol vessels.The setup procedure fasts and basic; trials on the Elli (Kortenaer)-class frigate Aigaion (F-460)demonstrated complete combination in less than a day with the workstations placed withing the garage.
Even if the system is not set up, you can do it if you have the right cabling.
The Navy revealed strong satisfaction with the systems performance during examinations in a list of tasks and measured performances.Naval News: Can you supply us some information about the system and the CONOPS?Lubos Sramek: Each S-100 system consists of 2 S-100 air lorries (note: both housed in FDIs dedicated hangar) with multiple payloads, a control system with 2 workstations and information link.
Just one lorry is required for many objectives, while the 2nd ensures high schedule (over 90%) or goes through upkeep.
Note that a person helicopter can perform one role (for instance launches sonobuoys for coastal security) while the second one a different role (geared up with an information relay box, it optimizes the transmission series of information from acoustic buoys released).
A total of 4 systems will be provided to Greeceeach comprising two UAS.
Three systems will be deployed aboard the FDI frigates, while the very first system will initially be land-based at Marathon for training functions.
The Navy maintains flexibility to later appoint this system to a fourth frigate or keep it ashore for training and will buy a fifth system.Installation of the systems will be handled by Naval Group (NG) in Greece, with all needed cabling and integration work carried out in your area.
The first system is expected to be provided instantly upon agreement finalizing.
We estimate that the first shipment will occur this summer.
Each frigate will get its S-100 system soon after arrival, permitting timely integration and deployment.With the arrival of the first FDI frigate Kimon in Greece, and the upcoming setup of the S-100 systems, the Hellenic Navy is set to boost its operational versatility and security abilities significantly.Naval News: What about the systems maintenance?Lubos Sramek: Maintenance will be mostly managed by the Hellenic Navy itself, other than for choose parts like the engine and gearbox, which need regular overhaul in Austria.
These can be switched out onboard, with a turn-around time of under 2 days for removal and replacement, and about a month for engine servicing.The helicopters will never ever need to go back to Austria for maintenance!If you are in an objective and you require to carry out any upkeep, you eliminate merely the payloads of the 1st helicopter and you move them to the 2nd one in about an hour.
In this method, the system attains well over 90% operational readiness.In March 2025, Greek MoD Nikos Dendias visited the UAS Schiebel manufacturing facility in Austria, where he was provided a tour by the Managing Director and owner of the Company, Hans Georg Schiebel.
He was also given a presentation of the S-100 UAS that will gear up the Greek FDI frigates.
Photo by Nikos Dendias on LinkedInNaval News: Why the Hellenic Navy did not select the S-300, the bigger variation of S-100? Lubos Sramek: The S-300 was not selected for the FDI HN program as it had not yet flown when the choice was made.
Its maiden flight occurred in February 2025, with preliminary deliveries expected toour initially customer for this UAS, South Korea, in 2026and agreement completed in 2028.
The S-300 provides minimized maintenance needs and a heavier payload, especially for ASW operations, but shares the very same infrastructure as the S-100, enabling an easy future shift if desired.
If the HN desires in the future to move on with the bigger S-300, it is a very easy and fast procedure as the same workstations and general facilities is utilized for both systems.Source: Naval News