EU selects Austrian drone for next-generation submarine hunting project

The European Union has selected an Austrian-made unmanned helicopter as the airborne platform for a major new defence project aimed at strengthening Europe's ability to detect and counter submarine threats, amid growing concerns over Russian and Chinese underwater military capabilities.

The European Union-funded SWORD project has selected the CAMCOPTER S-300 unmanned helicopter, developed by Austrian company Schiebel, as the aerial platform for a next-generation anti-submarine warfare (ASW) system designed to enhance the capabilities of European navies, Defence Blog writes.

Schiebel announced on June 1 that its CAMCOPTER S-300 will play a central role in the 36-month SWORD (Stand-off anti-submarine Warfare through Unmanned systems and Remote Detection) programme, led by TKMS ATLAS ELEKTRONIK and supported by the European Defence Fund.

The project seeks to develop an integrated stand-off anti-submarine warfare capability that would allow naval forces to detect, track, classify and engage submarine threats from greater distances, reducing risks to crewed vessels.

The initiative comes as European defence planners increasingly focus on underwater security challenges. Russia has significantly modernised its submarine fleet in recent years, while China continues to expand its underwater warfare capabilities. Both countries have increased submarine operations in strategically important regions, raising concerns among NATO and European military planners.

At the core of the SWORD concept is the use of unmanned systems to deploy sensors and gather intelligence without requiring surface ships to move directly over suspected submarine positions. Naval vessels conducting traditional anti-submarine operations can become vulnerable when operating within the engagement range of hostile submarines. By deploying sensors remotely through drones, navies can monitor potential threats while maintaining a safer distance.

The CAMCOPTER S-300 was selected due to its combination of payload capacity, endurance and maritime operating capabilities. The unmanned helicopter can carry up to 350 kilograms of equipment and remain airborne for as long as 24 hours. The platform is capable of transporting sonar systems, deploying sonobuoys and carrying other specialised sensors required for anti-submarine missions.

Its vertical takeoff and landing capability allows it to operate from naval vessels without the need for runways, while its foldable rotor system enables storage in shipboard hangars.

"We are proud that the CAMCOPTER S-300 has been selected for this important European Defence initiative," said Hans Georg Schiebel, chairman of the Schiebel Group.

"SWORD is a great example of European cooperation in a highly relevant maritime defence domain. The selection of the S-300 highlights the platform's potential to support future ASW concepts with a flexible, unmanned and operationally efficient capability," he added.

The SWORD consortium is led by TKMS ATLAS ELEKTRONIK, the naval systems division of thyssenkrupp Marine Systems, one of Europe's leading submarine manufacturers. The project brings together defence and technology partners from across the continent as part of broader EU efforts to strengthen collaborative defence research and reduce duplication among national programmes.

The CAMCOPTER S-300 is the larger successor to Schiebel's S-100 platform, which is already operated by several navies, including those of Germany, France, Italy and the United Arab Emirates for maritime surveillance and intelligence missions.

European defence officials view the project as a significant step toward integrating unmanned systems into future naval operations, particularly as submarine threats become more sophisticated and increasingly difficult to detect using conventional methods.

By Sabina Mammadli