Five Year Dev/Testing Program Led To Historic Achievement

Czech UAV manufacturer Primoco UAV announced it has received certification from both NATO and the European Union Aviation Safety Agency – EASA – for its mid-size vehicle One 150 under a Light UAS Operator Certificate (LUC), the first UAV maker to gain both military and civilian certifications.

The certifications are the result of a five-year program of rigorous testing and development, and set a global benchmark for certification of medium-sized UAVs with a takeoff weight of 150 kg.

The One 150 model is the only UAV in its class to be certified under the NATO standard STANAG 4703. As an internationally recognized military standard, there is no further need for complex and lengthy approvals in every market, so NATO member states can deploy the One 150 immediately.

Ladislav Semetkovský, Founder and CEO of Primoco UAV said, “Nearly 40 engineers, designers, verification experts, and pilot-operators dedicated five years to demonstrating that our aircraft meets the most stringent requirements for operations in shared airspace with manned military aircraft and other certified UAVs.”

The certification process included 200 test verifications, more than 170 test flights, and 50 ground tests.

Semetkovský added, “We compiled 28,000 pages of documentation, recorded 500 hours of video footage, and 123 GB of data. This illustrates both the challenge of obtaining this certification and the competitive advantage it provides our company.”

The One 150 has also secured the EASA Light UAS Operator Certificate at the SAIL III level, awarded by the Civil Aviation Authority of the Czech Republic. It enables the company to operate the vehicle over urban areas subject to specified risk mitigation procedures.

“This certification is the seal of approval for our high-tech level capabilities and ability to meet the highest regulatory standards. Such skills allow us to develop advanced UAV solutions for environments where most unmanned aircraft are prohibited or require complicated exemptions. It also enables us to operate in shared airspace alongside manned aircraft, offering operational versatility,” said Semetkovský.

FMI:  www.uav-stol.com/