The Alliant Techsystems Outrider tactical unmanned air vehicle (TUAV) has resumed flight testing, but the future of the project is a matter of debate.
Flight trials in the advanced concept technology-demonstration continues, with the Outrider now powered by a new engine. Officials will, however, have to revamp the project because the US Congress allocated $45 million for the Outrider programme in fiscal year 1998 is a significant cut from the Department of Defense's request for $88 million.
The US Congress, dismayed over management of the programme, has recommended that overall control of the TUAV effort move from the Joint UAV Project Office to the US Army, the primary customer for the Outrider.
Whether the programme management shifts remains to be seen, because of confusion over the Congressional language. Senior Pentagon officials have been updated on the pace of testing, but elected to hold off for now on resolving the management issue.
An alternative to transfer would have the project stay in the Joint UAV Project Office, but with the US Army controlling the budget.
Flight testing was suspended when an Outrider crashed on 15 October during the final trial of the UAV with the McCulloch 4318F engine, which has been scrapped because it failed endurance tests. It has been replaced by the UK-built UAV Engines 801R rotary engine.
Alliant Techsystems says that the crash was isolated to an engine hardware problem.
Source: Flight International
