Sunday, November 23, 2008

EUROMALE

IOC: 2009
Total Program's Cost: USD$1.4 billion

Eagle 1

Also Known As
SIDM

Origin
France
Netherlands

Contractor/s
EADS

Family Members
Eagle 2

Derived from:
Heron

Description: The Eagle is a Medium Altitude, Long Endurance (MALE) UAV designed for strategic intelligence missions. It will meet the requirements of the French Air Force, MALE program, and the Netherlands. This European program has been named EUROMALE and it is being developed by EADS as prime contractor and Thales.

The Eagle UAV will incorporate IR/EO sensors, Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR), Electronic Intelligence (ELINT), and Communications Intelligence (COMINT), and laser designator payloads. Communications between the UAV and the ground control station will be done via satellites (SATCOM) and line-of-sight data links.

Eagle 1 will perform strategic intelligence missions during 24 hours at altitudes of 25,000 feet. In service date for the Eagle UAV is scheduled for 2009 and the program total cost involving 12+12 Eagles could be as high as €1,100 million.

The Eagle is an evolution from IAI/MALAT's Heron long endurance UAV. Up to five different payloads consisting of EO/IR sensors, SAR or Maritime Patrol Radar, ESM, COMINT, radio relay and more, can be carried by a single Eagle/Heron at the same mission.

EuroMale/SIDM maiden flight was carried out successfully on 11 September 2006 after taking off from Istres French Air Force Base in France. The flight was monitored by EADS, IAI and the French Defense Procurement Agency (DGA). This flight was managed by SIDM ground control station validating the UAVs satellite communications and line-of-sight datalink.

Specifications
Accommodation: Unmanned

Dimensions: Length 8.9 m, Wingspan 16.6 m

Weights: Max Weight 1,150 kg (2,535 lb), Payload 250 kg (551 lb)

Performance: Ceiling 10,000 m (32,808 ft), Endurance 30 hours, Max Range 3,300 km (1,782 nm), Service Life 15 yr, Top Speed 62 mps (222 kph)

Power: Power 914 shp

Other: Number of Engines 1

News
French Air Force SIDM Interim UAV Completed its Flight Acceptance Tests

EuroMale/SIDM Successfully Conducts its Maiden Flight

Operators

France

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

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