UAVs

^{By Peter La Franchi in Paris}

France, Germany and Spain are discussing the launch of a medium-altitude, long-endurance (MALE) unmanned air vehicle programme to replace the troubled EADS-run EuroMale project.

The Netherlands remains in bilateral discussions with France and plans to decide late this year on how to proceed with its requirement for a deployable MALE system to be in service by 2009.

The talks between the defence ministries of France, Germany and Spain are focusing on a system that would bear little resemblance to the EADS EuroMale, which is derived from the Israel Aircraft Industries Heron UAV. Whereas the EuroMale was aimed at the development of a capability in the class of the General Atomics Aeronautical Systems MQ-9 Predator B, the new concept being discussed would be nearer to the smaller GA-ASI MQ-1 Predator A, say industry sources.

The three-way talks come as Spain seeks to begin discussions with the US Department of Defense on options for systems that could be brought into service within the next three to four years. Spain wants to introduce an endurance UAV into service as soon as possible as part of ongoing efforts to curb illegal immigration across the Straits of Gibraltar.

The EuroMale has been plagued in recent months by problems with schedule and cost, and its proposed 2007 first flight target is now considered highly unlikely to be achieved. At last week’s Eurosatory exhibition in Paris, European Defence Agency head Nick Witney said he hoped for a positive outcome from the talks.