December 22, 2025 (France) – Schiebel has successfully completed the first CAMCOPTER S-300 flight test campaign in France, marking a key milestone in the development of its next-generation unmanned air system (UAS). The series of flights, conducted at the CESA Drones test site near Bordeaux, demonstrated the aircraft’s performance, stability, and expanded operational capabilities as it accumulates significant flight hours.

Over the course of the campaign, the S-300 achieved a total of 100 flight hours, extending its operational flight envelope and validating key characteristics such as handling qualities, flight control responsiveness, and overall system performance in a military-relevant environment. These tests build on previous development work and bring Schiebel closer to wider use cases for both government and defence operators worldwide.

Hans Georg Schiebel, Chairman of the Schiebel Group, noted the importance of conducting these flight activities in France, highlighting the country’s longstanding partnership with the company and its strategic role in advancing the S-300 programme. Drawing on Schiebel’s operational heritage with the proven CAMCOPTER S-100, the S-300 is designed to offer increased payload capacity, extended endurance, and enhanced mission flexibility for demanding applications.

Industry watchers say the successful test flights showcase growing capabilities in large-scale vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) unmanned systems, which are gaining traction in surveillance, logistics, and defence roles due to their extended endurance and versatile operational profiles.

Key Highlights

• Schiebel completes first CAMCOPTER S-300 flight test campaign in France

• Aircraft reaches 100 total flight hours, validating performance and stability

• Tests focus on flight characteristics, control response, and operational envelope expansion

• Campaign conducted in a military-relevant environment near Bordeaux

• S-300 builds on Schiebel’s heritage with the CAMCOPTER S-100 and aims at global government and defence users