Thursday, December 04, 2008

Taranis

Maiden Flight: 2010
Development Cost: GBP£124 million

Origin
United Kingdom

Program Status:
Under Development

Contractor/s
BAE Systems *
GE Aviation Systems
QinetiQ
Rolls-Royce

Description: The Taranis is an Unmanned Combat Air Vehicle (UCAV) demonstrator sponsored by the United Kingdom (UK) Ministry of Defense (MoD) as part of Strategic Unmanned Air Vehicle (Experiment) (SUAV(E)) program . The Taranis industry team is being led by BAE Systems and comprises: QinetiQ, Rolls-Royce and the systems division of GE Aviation (formally Smiths Aerospace). The Taranis concept builds on BAE Systems-funded Raven program and many other technologies from UK MoD programs.

In December 2006, the UK MoD awarded BAE Systems a £124 million contract to provide the Royal Air Force (RAF) with the Taranis demonstrator. Ground testing is scheduled to begin in early 2009. The first demonstrator aircraft is expected to take to the air in 2010. By 2011, the UK MoD and the RAF will have enough information to proceed with the Deep and Persistent Offensive Capability (DPOC) which would deliver a future unmanned combat air vehicle.

Basically, Taranis is a delta-wing aircraft with an stealthy airframe. It features a sophisticated control system that will allow to autonomously taxi, takeoff and navigate through the target/search area while reacting to any threats or other theater events. Its sensor package will provide real time imagery to the remote control operator to confirm to engage a target of opportunity or a pre-programmed target. Once the mission has been accomplished, the Taranis will find its way back home, landing and taxing autonomously.

News
BAE Systems Unveils Fury Unmanned Ground Attack Air Vehicle

Assembly Starts of Taranis Unmanned Combat Air Vehicle

Taranis on Track for First Flight in 2010

BAE Systems Begins Assembly of First TARANIS Unmanned Combat Air Vehicle Demonstrator

UK Taranis UAV Passes First Major Milestone

RAF Demonstrates Technology Breakthrough by Remotely Flying a Pilotless Passenger Jet

UK MOD Launches Taranis Advanced UAV Demonstrator

Operators

United Kingdom / Planned

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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