Defence

EADS to fly new UAV next year following Barracuda loss

By Peter La Franchi

EADS Military Air Systems is planning to fly a new unmanned reconnaissance air vehicle demonstrator within a year as the programme recovers from the loss of its Barracuda aircraft on 23 September.

EADS says it is committed to construction of at least one aircraft – which is unlikely to be called Barracuda and is being referred to as a “next-generation reconnaissance UAV” –  but the final configuration is not yet decided.

The company is evaluating a significantly overhauled design that shifts away from low observable fighter aircraft configurations towards a more traditional twin-engine layout with modular characteristics that would support both URAV and medium-altitude long-endurance derivatives.

Initial details released by the company at the Unmanned Vehicle Systems Canada conference in Montebello, Quebec, show the proposed configuration would have a short, bulbous forward fuselage housing a satellite. communications terminal and a forward-facing synthetic aperture radar array.

It  would have a 500km (270nm) radius of operations and an endurance of 4-6h. The payload would also include signals intelligence systems. For the MALE version, the bulbous forward fuselage section would be extended to provide increased sensor space.

Both versions would support the same rear fuselage and tail structures, with twin semi-recessed turbojet engines mounted either side of a single vertical fin and tailplanes. The fin mount would extend forwards between the engines to support equipment bays. Illustrations shown by EADS suggest these would incorporate electronic warfare self-protection equipment.

EADS says it is confident it will be able to offer an operationally ready production URAV system by 2010-12.