SAFRAN Group this week said the French defense procurement agency DGA has chosen Sagem over a field of competing companies to design the datalink system for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV).

According to the terms of the contract–dubbed Lido, French acronym for Drone Data Link–Sagem will define all data links intended for future UAV systems: line-of-site and satellite links needed for both air vehicle control and operating the onboard sensors.

The contract will apply to all future UAV systems, whether tactical, operative, theater or combat (UCAV).

SAFRAN said the technologies offered by Sagem will feature innovative, economical bandwidth solutions, plus enhanced protection against electronic warfare (EW).