Sperwer

The SAGEM Sperwer (Dutch for Sparrowhawk) is a remotely piloted unmanned aerial vehicle manufactured by the French firm SAGEM. The aircraft operates at cruise altitudes exceeding 16,000 feet with an endurance of up to five hours. It transmits target imagery to a ground control station at ranges up to 150 kilometers.

Operational History

The Sperwer has been operated by several nations. The Canadian Armed Forces, which designated the aircraft CU-161, deployed the Sperwer in Afghanistan starting in 2003. Canada retired the aircraft after its final mission on April 18, 2009, replacing it with the IAI Heron. The Royal Danish Army purchased the Sperwer, but the Danish Ministry of Defence cancelled the program due to technical issues and sold the remaining aircraft to Canada. The Swedish Army operated the aircraft under the designation UAV01 Ugglan before retiring the system. The Royal Netherlands Air Force also retired its Sperwer fleet, planning to phase them out in March 2009 in favor of UAVs rented from Israel's Aeronautics Defense Systems Ltd.

The Sperwer remains in service with the French Army (61e régiment d'artillerie), which ordered three additional units with enhanced sensors and holds options for five more. Other operators include the Hellenic Army of Greece and the United States Air National Guard.

Several retired Sperwers are preserved on public display. In Canada, aircraft are located at the AirForce Museum Society of Alberta (serial number 026), the Canada Aviation and Space Museum (serial number 001), the National Air Force Museum of Canada (serial number 007), and the Greenwood Military Aviation Museum (serial number 161026). In the Netherlands, retired airframes are held by the Nationaal Militair Museum (serial number Z061) and the Artillery Museum (serial number Z051).