DTN News: EADS Continues Flight Test Campaign Of Barracuda

DTN News: EADS Continues Flight Test Campaign Of Barracuda

Source: DTN News / SPX

(NSI News Source Info) PARIS, France - September 17, 2010: In a further test series comprising four flights, EADS Defence and Security (DS) has again successfully tested the technology demonstrator 'Barracuda' at Goose Bay Air Force Base in Canada. Advanced technologies and new procedures have successfully passed new tests under realistic conditions. As part of the flight tests, DS particularly checked the Sense and Avoid capabilities, Auto Taxi Systems, a Structure Integrated Antenna and the Image Exploitation Chain (Automatic Target Detection Systems). During this 2010 test campaign in the Goose Bay area of the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador, the jet-propelled unmanned flight system (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle - UAV) flew completely autonomously along pre-programmed flight profiles including auto-taxying processes. Flying some 2 hours and 42 minutes in four take-off and landing cycles this summer, the Barracuda now reaches an overall total flight hours of 4 hours and 15 minutes (sum of two test campaigns in 2009 and 2010). It was monitored from the Ground Control Station with respect to flight safety only, while the Payload Ground Station was used to steer the on-board Zeiss EO/IR sensor with regards to different modes and view angles from the ground as well as to receive the sensor data. These successful flights in Goose Bay have given EADS Defence and Security practical confirmation of the results of technology programmes it had already conducted on its own initiative. Moreover, the Barracuda technology demonstrator was used for test flights in the 'Agile UAV in Network Centric Environment' technology programme commissioned by the Federal Office of Defence Technology and Procurement (Bundesamt fur Wehrtechnik und Beschaffung - BWB). "The continued successful testing campaigns of the Barracuda mark an extremely important step in the technological development, enabling us to consequently increase our capability to offer a full range of UAV products", stated Nicolas Chamussy, senior vice president of Unmanned Aerial Systems at EADS Defence and Security. The test campaigns also enabled practical experiences in the interoperability of UAS within Network-Centric (NEC) operations conducted in line with the latest NATO criteria and in autonomous operation involving interaction with other systems. The experiences and results of this flight test campaign will be used for future UAS programmes such as the Talarion.

DTN News: France Deployed Own SIDM UAV In Afghanistan

DTN News: France Deployed Own SIDM UAV In Afghanistan *Source: DTN News / Int'l Media (NSI News Source Info) PARIS, France - October 4, 2009: France has finally developed a competitor for the U.S. Predator, and they are sending three of them to Afghanistan next month. The EADS SIDM is actually a modified version of the Israeli IAI Eagle UAV. SIDM is, like Predator, a 1.2 ton UAV that can stay in the air for up to 24 hours, at altitudes of up to 30,000 feet. SIDM has a 51.4 foot wingspan and a total payload capacity of 600 pounds. EADS and Israel Aircraft Industry (IAI), have successfully completed the first flight of a MALE UAV System in France. The drone SIDM (Systeme Interimaire de Drone Male) flew from the Istres air base, the DGA (French armaments procurement agency) fly test centre with full communication package including satellite communication and line-of-sight data links. This flight, operated from the operational SIDM ground station, demonstrated the integrity of the UAV system, in particular the Automatic Take-Off and Landing (ATOL), satellite communication and the integral command and control functions. The Predator is a one ton aircraft that is 27 feet long with a wingspan of 49 feet. It has two hard points, which usually carry one (107 pound) Hellfire each. Each hard point can also carry a Stinger air-to-air missile. Max speed of the Predator is 215 kilometers an hour, max cruising speed is 160 kilometers an hour. Max altitude is 25,000 feet. Typical sorties are 12-20 hours each. Predator is being replaced by Sky Warrior, and was developed into a larger combat version, the Reaper. The MQ-9 Reaper is a 4.7 ton, 36 foot long aircraft with a 66 foot wingspan that looks like the MQ-1. It has six hard points, and can carry 1,500 pounds of weapons. These include Hellfire missiles (up to eight), two Sidewinder or two AMRAAM air-to-air missiles, two Maverick missiles, two 500 pound smart bombs (laser or GPS guided.) Max speed is 400 kilometers an hour, and max endurance is 15 hours. The Reaper is considered a combat aircraft, to replace F-16s or A-10s. The MQ-1C Sky Warrior weighs 1.5 tons, carries 300 pounds of sensors internally, and up to 500 pounds of sensors or weapons externally. It has an endurance of up to 36 hours and a top speed of 270 kilometers an hour. Sky Warrior has a wingspan 56 feet and is 28 feet long. The Sky Warrior can land and take off automatically, and carry four Hellfire missiles (compared to two on the Predator). France chose to develop their new UAV using an Israeli aircraft because the Israelis are pioneers in the field. The Predator owes much to earlier Israeli designs, and Israeli UAVs get lots of combat experience. SIDM finished its acceptance tests last Summer, and the last six months have been spent training operators and maintainers.

DTN News: EADS Flies Largest UAV Ever Built In Europe

DTN News: EADS Flies Largest UAV Ever Built In Europe

*Source: DTN News / EADS

(NSI News Source Info) GOOSE BAY AIR FORCE BASE, Canada - July 27, 2009: In a test series comprising four flights, EADS Defence & Security (DS) has successfully tested the unmanned flight system (UAV – Unmanned Aerial Vehicle) ‘Barracuda’ at Goose Bay air force base in Canada. Technologies and procedures to be used in future mission-ready unmanned aerial systems have thus been put to the test in realistic conditions.

The Barracuda originated as a UAV design study, intended to push EADS into the market for medium-altitude long-range UAVs, a market they view as dominated by the United States and Israel. Its official debut was at the 2006 International Aerospace Exhibition, where military applications and specifications for the Barracuda were revealed. EADS' current focus is to get the Barracuda certified for unregulated flight in Germany's designated airspace, while the long-term goal is to have it certified for non-segregated airspace.

During the test campaign in the Goose Bay area of the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador, the jet-propelled demonstrator flew completely autonomously along pre-programmed flight profiles. It was monitored from the ground station with respect to flight safety only.

The new, successfully tested unmanned aerial system is a further development of the first Barracuda technology test bed which performed its maiden flight in April 2006. Since that time the software, systems and solutions for the methods and processes carried out under the Agile UAV programme have been continuously developed to form an integrated system. The results of these modifications, which had so far only existed as computer models, have now been successfully tried and tested in flight on the Barracuda. The flexibility of the software and the modular capabilities have also been enhanced. This makes the system even easier to adapt to a wide range of UAV missions which will then be verified and validated using the Barracuda built by EADS Defence & Security.

These successful flights in Goose Bay have given EADS Defence & Security practical confirmation of the results of technology programmes it had already conducted on its own initiative. Moreover, the Barracuda is used for test flights in the ‘Agile UAV in Network Centric Environment’ technology programme commissioned by the Federal Office of Defence Technology and Procurement (BWB – Bundesamt für Wehrtechnik und Beschaffung).

“The successful flights by our unmanned aerial system – the largest ever yet built in Europe – underscore our competence in developing and offering market-driven solutions to meet the multifaceted requirements of our customers in one of the world’s most promising future markets in our sector,” commented Dr. Stefan Zoller, member of the EADS Executive Committee responsible for Defence & Security. “This powerful demonstrator widens the technological UAV product portfolio from EADS Defence & Security within the scope of our own high-performance systems,” Zoller stated. “It enables us to offer a full range of UAV products from tactical systems to complex reconnaissance and surveillance systems.”

Bernhard Gerwert, Head of the DS Business Unit Military Air Systems (MAS), emphasised: “We once again have a demonstrator for the autonomous and network-centric UAV mission systems of the future. The unmanned aerial system designed by EADS Defence & Security and manufactured in Germany and Spain can be used for a wide range of tasks in the development and risk minimisation of reconnaissance UAVS.” Gerwert went on to explain that the technology demonstrator had been built largely with EADS Defence & Security’s own funds and with resources contributed by the German Army, the BWB and the supplier companies involved in the programme.

Even if this new version of the UAV demonstrator is not destined for series production, EADS will be able to gather fundamental insights for operationally mature next-generation UAV products – either alone or in cooperation with European partners. With this demonstrator, EADS Defence & Security will gain practical experience in the interoperability of unmanned systems within Network-Centric Operations conducted in line with the latest NATO criteria and in autonomous operation involving interaction with other systems. This also makes it possible to reduce any risks involved in developing the planned new UAV Talarion.

Military Air Systems is an integrated activity of EADS Defence & Security (DS). DS is a systems solutions provider for armed forces and civil security worldwide. Its portfolio ranges from sensors and secure networks through missiles to aircraft and UAVs as well as global security, service and support solutions. In 2008, DS – with around 23,000 employees – achieved revenues of € 5.7 billion.

EADS is a global leader in aerospace, defence and related services. In 2008, EADS generated revenues of € 43.3 billion and employed a workforce of about 118,000.