UAVs

The European Defence Agency (EDA) expects to sign the first of two research contracts for unmanned air vehicle technologies this month as European companies launch parallel studies through the agency on an opt-in basis. The agency has highlighted long-endurance UAVs as a key area for technical case studies that could lead to joint technology demonstrators.

BAE Systems, EADS, Finmeccanica, Saab and Thales have defined a roadmap for pooled research and identified critical technology areas where Europe lags behind other parts of the world. The companies and defence ministers from the 24 EDA member states voted to award two contracts worth €750,000 ($875,000) each for research into sense-and-avoid technologies and line-of-sight and beyond-line-of-sight digital datalinks. EDA chief executive Nick Whitney expects the first of these to be signed this month.

The study findings will be shared between all 24 nations under the centrally funded research effort. However, data on additional UAV research being conducted on an opt-in basis will be released only to participating countries, with a summary made available to other EDA members.