CHRISTINA MACKENZIE / PARIS
France and the Netherlands have signed a €600 million ($725 million) agreement to co-operate on studying capabilities and development of a medium- altitude long-endurance (MALE) unmanned air vehicle. The aim is to have a totally European UAV system from 2009 capable of undertaking intelligence gathering, target assignation and operational communications missions.
The project is part of the ongoing European Capabilities Acquisition Programme (ECAP) and is open to any other European Union member state wishing to join. France and the Netherlands want to acquire the technologies in Europe to build a complete MALE UAV system.
The French defence ministry says the European UAV, or Euromale, should be modular in concept and be able to evolve technologically to "facilitate its integration into C3I systems." The agreement means that Amsterdam and Paris will not only work on a platform, but have earmarked nine areas of capability to study.
Some trials will use the EADS Eagle 1, three of which are to be delivered to France next year. The Eagle is based on Israel Aircraft Industries' Heron. Several sensors are also from Israel, while the ground segment and transmission is supplied by EADS, which is contemplating development of an Eagle 2. With twice the Eagle 1's payload capacity at 500kg (1,100lb), this would fly at 45,000ft (14,000m) instead of 25,000ft and at 250kt (460km/h) instead of 80-125kt. Meanwhile, EADS has completed cold-weather Eagle tests for UK evaluation.
Source: Flight International
