Sagem (Safran group) has just signed a contract with SIMMAD (1), on behalf of the French
Ministry of Defense, to provide in-service maintenance for the Sperwer SDTI tactical drone
systems deployed by the French army. The contract covers all maintenance, repair and technical support services for systems in
service with the army until 2014. It also includes an order with Robonic Oy, the Finnish subsidiary of Sagem, for two Kontio
towed pneumatic catapult systems (type MC2555LLR). Lighter and smaller than the first-
generation catapults, these units will reduce the system’s footprint, decrease operating
costs, facilitate catapult operations, and increase the payload to extend the drone’s
endurance.