THE GEC-MARCONI Phoenix reconnaissance unmanned air-vehicle (UAV) survived a critical test at the end of April, when it was successfully operated at the British Army's Larkhill test range in front of an audience of key decision-makers.
In the second quarter of 1995, GEC-Marconi was given 12 months to fix problems which had still not been resolved a decade after development of the UAV was started.
GEC-Marconi has spent the last 12 months trying to meet the original specification, with a UK Ministry of Defence decision on whether to complete the programme now likely to be announced in July.
Sources close to the programme believe that the most likely outcome is that the Phoenix will be purchased for the army.
Source: Flight International
