PETER LA FRANCHI & CHRISTINA MACKENZIE / PARIS
Dassault to lead project with aircraft based on Logiduc concept, with first flight in 2008
The French defence procurement agency DGA is committing €300 million ($350 million) to develop a full-scale UCAV demonstrator. Dassault will be the prime contractor for the project, with the aircraft to be based on its existing company-funded Logiduc UCAV concept. First flight will occur in 2008.
The DGA says it intends to study UCAV concepts in parallel with manned options for an eventual Rafale fighter replacement. It also hopes to secure other European government investments into the UCAV development project, indicating it has been looking at a funded participation model similar to the multinational Joint Strike Fighter programme led by the USA.
The DGA says it intends to select a next generation frontline combat aircraft - possibly a UCAV - by 2015. The replacement fighter would enter service around 2020.
The current phase of Rafale development ends in 2008, but will see the new F3 version fielded with the French air force from 2005. A further five years of funding proposed for 2008-14 is still to be scoped. France plans a mid-life upgrade for the type in 2020-25.
Dassault says the approval of funding for the UCAV demonstration will allow it to play a key role in UCAV development globally, and opens the way for wider European co-operation in the sector.
The funding decision comes ahead of the planned roll-out and first flight of a new tactical unmanned air vehicle (TUAV) variant of the Logiduc family - designated Moyen Duc - late this year.
Dassault officials say construction of the TUAV demonstrator began earlier this year, with that system forming the basis of its joint bid with Sagem for the French army's Multi Sensor Multi Mission UAV requirement.
Dassault says a second version of its Petit Duc one-third scale UCAV demonstrator made its first flight at the beginning of June under the DGA's AVE UCAV demonstration. The first Petit Duc demonstrator has been flying since mid-2000. The second Petit Duc shares the tailless configuration that will be applied on the Moyen Duc and Grand Duc.
The full-scale UCAV development programme may include Thales Defence as the supplier of the ground-based integrated command and control architecture. Thales Defence chief operating officer Francois Lureau says that clear roles on the development programme are still to be determined.
Source: Flight International
