Saab Aerospace has released further details of its new tactical unmanned air vehicle (TUAV) programme, and is examining jet- and turboprop-powered variants (Flight International, 15-21 June). These share the same fuselage, forward canard and cranked inboard wing sections, although the jet design's outboard wing is fully swept and has a narrower overall span. Saab president and chief executive Ake Svensson says there is an "urgent need to start developing next-generation systems" if the company is to leverage its investment in the SHARC unmanned combat air vehicle demonstrator programme. Saab intends to have a TUAV demonstrator flying within two years, but says the development programme "will require international partners". Svensson believes a generational change is looming for the TUAV sector, with demand growing for systems certificated for use in non-segregated airspace and capable of performing higher order levels of autonomous operation.
Source: Flight International