SAGEM Sperwer

The SAGEM Sperwer is a medium‑range tactical reconnaissance UAV developed in the early 1990s by the French defense firm SAGEM (now part of Safran). First flown in 1995, the system entered operational service with the French Army and later with several NATO members, including the United Kingdom, the Netherlands and Sweden. The aircraft features a conventional twin‑boom layout, a 3.5‑meter wingspan and a distinctive V‑tail, allowing a cruise speed of 150 km/h and a maximum endurance of up to eight hours at an operating altitude of 4 500 metres. Payload capacity is centred on electro‑optical and infrared sensors mounted on a stabilized gimbal, providing day‑and‑night imagery, as well as a laser designator for target marking. A ground‑based control station with a line‑of‑sight data link up to 200 km enables real‑time video transmission and waypoint navigation. The Sperwer’s modular design simplified maintenance and facilitated rapid upgrades, keeping the platform relevant throughout its two‑decade service life. Its deployment marked one of the first widespread uses of unmanned aerial systems for battlefield intelligence, paving the way for modern UAV concepts and influencing subsequent European designs such as the CASA‑EADS Seeker and the Israeli Hermes‑500 series.