DAMAGE TO the GEC-Marconi Phoenix unmanned air vehicle (UAV) during recovery is behind a UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) decision to undertake a review into the future of the programme (Flight International, 25-31 January).
GEC admits that, on recovery, the UAV occasionally sustains more damage than is acceptable to the MoD. The air vehicle is parachute-recovered, with the impact being absorbed by a frangible hump on the top of the aircraft.
GEC has recommended to the MoD that an air bag be used to cushion the Phoenix's landing.
Whitehall officials describe the future of the Phoenix as being "aggressively reviewed", although GEC claims that it has all of the system's problems solved.
The MoD is examining off-the-shelf alternatives to the Phoenix before deciding on the project's future. The programme is six years behind schedule and is reckoned to have cost nearly £230 million - double the original budget.
Source: Flight International
