Spain has given the green light to formal participation in the EADS-led "Advanced Unmanned Air Vehicle" programme, joining France and Germany in a funded risk mitigation stage that will see an initial contract award within the next two months.

 Spain-EADS-UAV
 © EADS
EADS initiated the Advanced UAV concept two years ago

In parallel, the industrial consortium supporting the programme is to be expanded to include Thales and Indra. Specific roles for both firms will be negotiated by EADS once the risk study contract has been finalised.

France and Germany announced their formal commitment to the proposed development programme at the Paris air show last June, and Spanish ratification occurred on 18 July, with a formal announcement made by the France's DGA armaments directorate last week.

The risk-reduction work will include analysis of technical, financial and schedule issues, and will "define a technical solution answering the needs of the three nations", the DGA says. "The signature of this government agreement is the first step towards the launch of a European large intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition and reconnaissance UAV programme that could be joined by other European partners, with a view to provide a much needed capability in support of operations by the middle of the next decade," it adds. "It will also contribute to the development of an autonomous European industrial capacity for this type of system."

Government-level co-ordination of the proposed programme is being equally shared between the three participating nations. Talks are also continuing with the European Defence Agency on it potentially taking over management, although no near-term decisions are anticipated.

EADS Defence and Security initiated the Advanced UAV concept two years ago as an evolution of its Barracuda project. The proposed new-generation UAV would use a modular fuselage and propulsion system with interchangeable wing and mission kits to allow it to operate in long endurance and high speed, deep penetration roles.




Source: Flight International

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