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Type
UCAV technology demonstrator (unbemanntes Fluggerät)
Country (Land)
United Kingdom
Manufacturer (Hersteller)
BAE Systems
Farnborough, Hampshire GU14 6YU
United Kingdom
Tel: 0044-1252/384719
Fax: 0044-1252/383947
Internet: www.baesystems.com
General (Allgemeine Angaben)
Crew (Besatzung): 0
Weapons (Bewaffnung): Taranis has two internal weapons bays. There are no plans to drop weapons during the initial test flights, though simulations will be done.
Power plant (Antrieb): not yet known, but possibly the Rolls-Royce Adour 951
Dimensions (Abmessungen)
Like a Hawk trainer
Weights (Massen)
Take-off weight (Startmasse): around 8 tonnes
Performance (Flugleistungen)
No details available
Customers (Kunden)
The UK Ministry of Defence has contracted the Taranis demonstration programme in the context of its Strategic Unmanned Air Vehicle (Experimental) programme. One air vehicle will be built.
Costs (Kosten)
A 124 million Pound contract was awarded in December 2006. It was said that the mix of MoD and industry investment is 75 and 25 per cent respectively.
Remarks (Bemerkungen)
Project Taranis, named after the Celtic god of thunder, will investigate key technologies for possible future combat UAVs. At the launch in December 2006 it was said that the results will form the basis for an informed decision on future force-mix. The work on Taranis also sustains vital industrial capabilities.
Taranis is the size of a Hawk jet trainer und thus one of the largest UAVs so far. It will integrate stealth technology. Bomb drop tests are not planned, but weapons carriage and release will be emulated. Taranis will have fully integrated autonomous systems.
Partners in the programme are:
- BAE Systems: Programm leader. Low observables. System integration. Control infrastructure. Full autonomy elements
- BAE Systems Australia: Flight control computing
- Qinetiq: High level reasoning software to contribute to the autonomous capability. Communications subsystem and associated antennas. Flight safety subsystem.
- Rolls-Royce: propulsion system
- Smiths Aerospace: Vehicle systems support
The UK MoD said at the launch of the programme that innovative business practices will be used, with military staff and scientist working alongside industry to deliver better information sharing.
History (Geschichte)
The UK Defence Procurement Agency (DPA) set up the Strategic Unmanned Air Vehicles (Experiment) integrated projects team in May 2005. SUAV(E) was created following the termination of the Future Offensive Air System (FOAS) programme. The overall aim of the SUAV(E) is to assemble the evidence required for the UK to make informed decisions about what, if any, UAV platforms in the deep strike arena are relevant for future force mixes and what procurement options exist. Decisions are to be made in 2009/2010.
When it published its Defence Industrial Strategy in December 2005, the UK MoD said that “targeted investment in UCAV technology demonstrator programmes would help sustain” aerospace capabilities in the country.
The UK Ministry of Defence announced the contract award for the four-year Taranis project on 7 December 2006.
In December 2006 it was said that ground testing of Taranis will begin in early 2009 before flight tests are conducted over the Woomera test range in Australia in 2010. The design should be frozen within 15 months of programme start.
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