Brazilian Navy deploys its new ScanEagle drone for the first time

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – The Brazilian Navy (MB) has announced the first deployment of its new ScanEagle UAVs via a posting on social media. This information was officially published by the institution yesterday, June 28.

The video presented by the Brazilian Navy shows the preparation of the ScanEagle drones before launch, as well as the launch, flight, and subsequent recovery by the SkyHook system.

The preparations and maneuvers were carried out by the Brazilian Navy’s 1st Remotely Piloted Aircraft Squadron, which used the facilities of the São Pedro da Aldeia Naval Air Station in Rio de Janeiro.

The Brazilian Navy said yesterday that this first deployment would strengthen the institution’s capabilities to conduct intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) missions. It is expected to be deployed soon on Brazilian Navy frigates, with a view to the future Tamandaré class.

The Brazilian Navy’s procurement process for ScanEagle drones began in 2019 under the U.S. FMS program. The first system was delivered at the end of March this year. The June 28 demonstration will be the first opportunity for the facility to showcase the system to the public. In total, the Brazilian Navy plans to acquire six ScanEagle systems.

The ScanEagle is a state-of-the-art unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) designed and manufactured by Insitu, a subsidiary of Boeing. It is currently used by numerous armed forces worldwide, most notably the U.S. Navy.