S-100 Camcopter Drone

Full Specifications

Schiebel Camcopter S-100 – Compact VTOL Naval/ISR Drone

The Schiebel Camcopter S-100 is a versatile vertical-takeoff-and-landing (VTOL) unmanned aerial system that delivers flexible maritime and land-based surveillance, reconnaissance and support capabilities from small decks or austere launch sites. Developed by Austrian aerospace firm Schiebel between 2003 and 2005, the S-100 entered service in 2005 and has since become an internationally adopted platform across naval, border-security and civilian agencies.

S-100 is engineered for both maritime and overland use — operating from ships, coastal patrol vessels, remote airfields or improvised ground sites without needing prepared runways or heavy ground equipment. Its rotorcraft design, with compact fuselage and twin-rotor configuration, enables automatic vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) as well as precise deck landings on frigates or patrol vessels.

Equipped with a range of sensor payloads — daytime and infrared electro-optical/IR cameras, thermal surveillance, synthetic-aperture radar (SAR), ground-moving target indication (GMTI), laser/radar imaging, plus optional maritime radars, communications relays, and IFF or drop-container capability — the S-100 can be configured for maritime patrol, surveillance, border control, search & rescue, minefield mapping, convoy escort, and disaster-response.

Powered by a single Wankel-type rotary engine (approximately 50 hp), the S-100 reaches a top speed of about 220–222 km/h, with cruise/loiter speeds around 100–105 km/h. Standard flight endurance is 6 hours with a typical 34–50 kg payload; when fitted with an external fuel tank (using AVGas or heavier JP-5 / Jet-A1 fuel), endurance extends to 10+ hours, enabling beyond-line-of-sight missions over land or sea, with data links up to roughly 200 km.

Navigation and control are handled via redundant GPS/INS systems; missions can be flown autonomously via pre-programmed waypoints or manually from a ground control station. The S-100 supports real-time data transmission to remote operators, even in adverse weather or night conditions.

Today, operators include naval and coast-guard forces worldwide — reflecting the S-100’s proven reliability and adaptability to evolving maritime and land-based security challenges.