CAMCOPTER S-300 Showcased at ADEX 2025
Schiebel’s latest product, the CAMCOPTER S-300, was at ADEX 2025 in Seoul, South Korea. The airframe on display at the airshow was the first pre-production unit.
The CAMCOPTER S-300, a larger version of the CAMCOPTER S-100, was first teased by Schiebel at Euronaval 2022. The rotary wing unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) is 4.8 meters long, 1.9 meter high and 0.9 meter wide. It can fly at a maximum speed of 120 knots (cruising speed 55 knots). Size apart, the true difference compared to the S-100 system is the payload capacity. Indeed the S-300 is able to carry up to 340 Kg (fuel including) and its maximum take-off weight can reach 660 Kg. This is basically three times more compared the S-100 can carry. With a 50 Kg payload, the S-300 can fly up to 24 hours (4 hours with 250 Kg).
The launch customer of the S-300 will be South Korea: Schiebel signed in 2024 a contract with Hanwha Systems for the supply of the S-300 for Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition and Reconnaissance (ISTAR) missions for the Republic of Korea (ROK) Navy and Marine Corps.
A poster display by Hanwha Systems at ADEX 2025 read:
“The [S-300] Shipborne Unmanned Aerial System will be deployed to the Navy and Marine Corps in 2028, performing missions to detect early signs of hostility or provocations by enemy or neighboring states using both EO/IR cameras and SAR”.
The ROK Navy has been a Schiebel customer for over 10 years, regularly carrying out maritime ISR operations with its Camcopter S-100 fleet. The changing geo-political situation and North Korean threat call for an expansion of their unmanned aerial systems (UAS) fleet, adding larger and heavier UAS with greater capability.
In addition, the S-300 UAS has been selected for the SEACURE (Seabed and anti-submarine warfare capability through unmanned feature for Europe) European defense project.
A Schiebel source said the airframe on display at the ADEX 2025 is the first pre-production unit. “It has already been through a flight test campaign in Austria and will undergo extensive trials in the Republic of Korea” the source added.
Naval News understands the S-300 will soon begin a test flight campaign in Southern France.
Source: Naval News
