Sunday, November 23, 2008

Barracuda

Origin
Germany
Spain

Contractor/s
EADS

Description: Barracuda is a jet-powered Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) developed by EADS in Germany and Spain to meet future requirements of European and abroad customers. Barracuda UAV demonstrator program was started in 2003 and the 20-minute maiden flight occurred in May 2006 from San Javier Air Force Base, Spain. This UAV is made of Carbon-Fiber Composites (CFC) and powered by a single Pratt & Whitney Canada turbojet rated at 14 kN (3,000+ lb).

Barracuda features a triplex flight guidance and control system which allows for failsafe and non-jammable data transmission between the UAV and the ground station. Its modular open architecture will allow to integrate a wide range of sensors into its payload bay. In the near future, EADS plans to integrate electro-optical and infrared sensors, laser target designators, an Emitter Locator System (ELS) consisting of detectors for picking up radio-magnetic signals and also advanced Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) systems.

Specifications
Accommodation: Unmanned

Dimensions: Length 8 m, Wingspan 7 m

Weights: Max Weight 3,000 kg (6,614 lb)

Engine/s Performance: Thrust 3,150 lb (1,429 kg)

Other: Number of Engines 1

News
EADS Awarded Demonstration Program for Agile UAV in Network-Centric Environments

EADS Unveils Barracuda UAV Demonstrator

Image Gallery

Notes
(*) lead contractor
IOC: Initial Operating Capability
FOC: Full Operating Capability
CEP: Circular Error Probable
Comm: Commissioning Date
Meters (m) Kilometers (km) Nautic Miles (nm) Inch (in) Yard (yd) Foot (ft) Millimeter (mm)
Pound (lb) Kilogram (kg) kN (KiloNewton) Ton (t)
Meters per Second (mps) Kilometers per Hour (kph) Knot (kt) Miles per Hour (mph)
Liter (l) Galon (gl)
Year (yr) Minutes (min) Second (sec)
Shaft-Horse-Power (shp)

Last Updated: Saturday, November 22, 2008

Leave Feedback >>