European Defence Agency officials have revealed plans for the development of a new long endurance UAV to meet both civil and military requirements of the European Union member states coupled with a major push to achieve full airspace integration within six years.
This is a verbatim transcript of a presentation by Colonel Maurice de Langlois, EDA capability manager for engage and protect areas, at the Unmanned Systems Europe 2007 conference in Cologne, Germany, on the afternoon of 8 May 2007. It should be read in conjunction with the official EDA presentation slides used at the conference which can be downloaded here. Note that this is a large file and can take some time to load. The question and answer session transcript has been partially edited to remove some administrative discussions on order of questions.
Colonel de Langlois is on secondment to the EDA from the Belgium Army and is a native French speaker.
This transcript was prepared by Flight Unmanned editor Peter La Franchi, who recorded the event using professional grade digital audio equipment.
Unmanned Systems Europe 2007 was organised by the Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI). Please contact AUVSI directly if you wish to obtain other presentations from this conference.
Transcript starts:
Ladies and gentlemen good afternoon. This is a pleasure for me to make my presentation not this morning but this afternoon because it is for mean opportunity to check that our effort in the European Defence Agency concerning UAVs are more or less targeting the same priorities: I mean air access, sense and avoid, loss and pilots communication systems. So for me this is a sort of good scenario and for our new agency.
I am not sure that you are aware of the new and very young agency. I have no problem of internal coordination in the European Union (EU) because we are the unique defence agency in EU. We are not a lot of people – just 100 people working inside this agency and we are starting from scratch because we were created in 2004.
So I would like to explain what exactly is EDA and after that I will present EDA activity. I have no real – I do not intend to focus mainly on maritime surveillance activities but I will make some statement on what we are doing in maritime surveillance in terms of UAVs.
Why we have created a defence agency in EU? I think it is not a surprise for you. The first point is that Europe is under performing on the defence area. We are not able to give full enough substance to our European security and defence policy. This policy is also young, we started about ten years ago but we need to develop our capabilities for our EU operations. What is the situation within the member states? Within the 27 member states? Fragmentation in terms of capability requirements; fragmentation in terms of standards, of concepts, support and supply; and also fragmentation in terms of process. So what are we doing? What is our mission? We are trying to give a better answer to these weaknesses and we want to find opportunities to improve our capabilities, military capabilities. We want to find opportunities to have better organisation of our EU industry and we want also to have better coordination of our military requirements.
As I said this agency was created in July 2004 and at the centre of the slide [refers to presentation slide number 5] you have the description of the mission. Again we have to improve the EU’s defence capabilities and in the field of crisis management operations. Our interest is to work not for the next five years but for the next 25 years. As was presented by Saab this morning, we need to know where we go for next 20 years in order to identify what are the best priorities for the future.
What are the four main functions? They are described around this mission [refers to presentation slide number 5] and based on this function you have exactly the composition of our agency. What is really interesting inside this agency is that you have all the types of expertise [refers to presentation slide number 6]. I am military. I have a military background, I am an army officer and I belong to the capability directorate. In armament and missiles technology we have armaments experts and technical experts and we also have people coming from industry. That means if we have the possibility to develop military requirements within this agency we are able also to identify what could be the best answer to this military requirement and be able to launch not by ourselves a programme of cooperation but to allow some member states, some nations, to work together and to launch a programme in cooperation.
Now to implement this ability to promote and launch programmes in cooperation we are planning this matrix approach [refers to presentation slide number 7], crossing the military requirement, European defence and security policy requirements, what are our existing shortfalls, what will be the shortfalls in the next 20 years? Based on this inner depiction of shortfalls we are able to cross technical specification, possibility to cooperate within armaments programmes with the support of industry, and launch project initiatives and programmes. So this is a real simple matrix; you have to understand that for applying this matrix the process is not so simple.
These are just a few slides to explain why we were created and what we are doing. I just want to emphasise that we are working directly for our ministries of defence, 26 ministries for defence as Denmark is not involved in EDA. We have to report to our ministries of defence twice a year and to also to propose some orientations in order to improve our capabilities – EU capabilities. Improve also our cooperation in terms of armament programmes.
So why is EDA involved in UAV area? The UAV area is a broad area as you know. What are the facts? We started with this real simple fact [refers to presentation slide number 9]. This morning we have already talked on that. I just want to emphasise that the military market remit in the EU remains a small market and for that reason we need absolutely to cooperate and coordinate first our research and development activities and we need to find the best way in order to enlarge this market and I will explain how to do that and also maybe to spend more budget, more money in specific high technology UAV segments.
Another approach is an impression approach. So on this slide [refers to presentation slide number 10] you see that we can use UAVs for military applications. We have already written staff targets in NATO, in EU, in other bodies, in a lot of countries, in order to answer to these tasks and these missions. But what is really interesting for us and for everybody here we can compare these missions and these tasks with the civilian tasks and security tasks. We have some common missions that can be achieved either by security elements or military-defence elements, it doesn’t matter, at the centre of this slide. That means that we could and it is important to develop some common platforms and systems in order to answer to civilian and military application.
So the first orientation to harmonise the EU approach [refers to presentation slide number 11] – integration of UAVs in C4ISTAR system or system of systems approach – is not new. Concept of employment, staff requirements and open systems architectures - I think everybody agrees on that. We started also to work at the tactical UAV level and I will detail more of this element later.
Definition of R&T core technologies, this was one of the first tasks of our agency, to identify what are the most important and the key technology to be analysed in UAV. Harmonisation of procurement after 2010? In EU there is a big requirement to develop this capability around 2012 and what is important that it is tomorrow. The use of UAVs outside segregated airspace was mentioned a lot this morning and I will come back to this initiative as we also have an initiative in this area.
So the summary of the facts [refers to presentation slide 12]. Even if the market is small Europe is representing the second largest market in the world and the fact also is that the military requirements are well known but it is not the case for the civilian UAV market. Everybody is convinced that the civilian UAV market will emerge in the next decade but we don’t know how many UAVs will be developed for civilian requirements. That we know will start first with government organisations, especially for the support of the control of our EU borders and in support of coastguard / border control organisation and other national security organisations. The last, third circle of customer could be commercial, non development UAV market but with this the key is to allow UAVs to operate in non segregated airspace.
So to conclude this first overview [refers to presentation slide 13] there is a good range of potential UAV operations for military and civil purposes; UAVs are a key element; there is a clear demand for the ability to operate UAVs in the airspace we are convinced. We need absolutely to offer a solution crossing civilian and military requirements. So my main conclusion is written here, and we need absolutely to support military – civil synergies.
So what we are doing now? On this common interest we are just classifying where we have specificities in the military area or in civilian area [refers to presentation slide 15]; at subsystem level a lot of commonality in terms of navigation, of data links and ground station and so on. In terms of payload we have some specific military payloads, mainly in the SIGINT area and also the use of weapons, which are specific to the military area. On the platform there is just the problem of the protection of military UAVs. We need to develop some specificities in this area. On the engines we have this classification, we can discuss on this type of classification. But the main conclusion again is to show that there is a common interest to develop systems for both civilian and military use.
So what may be the most important initiative which is just starting is that at the end of last year we had a lot of contact the first and third pillar of the EU, I mean the European Commission and also with the ASD aerospace defence association. [Refers to presentation slide 16] We decided to work together and to analyse and develop what could be the European vision for the future concerning all types of unmanned aerial systems. I mean I start from the micro system and go to the high altitude unmanned systems. Here I will explain in more detail where we are applying our efforts, again in technological areas on a modular concept approach, also the integration in the airspace.
Technological advance [refers to presentation slide 17]: I mentioned that we started to analyse what are the most important key technologies. We have identified ten key technologies and you find again airworthiness here; sense and avoid technologies; and the problem of communications and LOS and BLOS communication. These are the main, key technologies. We have identified nearly 32 technologies but these are the most important.
So to take the example of maritime applications [refers to presentation slide 18], if we start to analyse what are the key technologies which are required for long endurance UAVs and tactical maritime UAVs here you may also see that there are some commonalities which have to be developed for the two types of platforms even if the basis of the requirements is not the same.
We initiated last year two studies on data links and sense and avoid and we just received the results of the first study on data links and we are waiting for the second one concerning sense and avoid.
Another type of study which was initiated if we are taking on UAVs we have to analyse the use of UAVs within a combination of different assets and platforms [refers to presentation slide 19]. We are conducting a balance of investment study for ISTAR platforms. It analyses the balance between satellites, high altitude unmanned air systems and also other UAVs. And we will continue to tackle the rest of the ten identified particular technologies.
So, modular concept [refers to presentation slide 20]. I am coming back to this common initiative with the European Commission. We are working – I am not sure for this year but for next year – to develop this type of approach. The idea is really simple. For the platform we will start to develop a civilian platform and with funds which will be provided by the European Commission and EDA intends to work mainly on military sensors and mission modules. We would like to launch an initiative at the beginning of next year in order to develop this modular concept, starting mainly for the development of long endurance UAVs.
Airspace access [refers to presentation slide 21]. After coordination with ASD and European Commission you may read here that we need absolutely to work in this area and we need to have a common regulatory legal framework and also to implement what are the common safety relevant technologies. What are the relevant technologies we need to develop to allow our UAVs to fly in non segregated airspace?
“We have created this joint organisational structure to co-ordinate all the actions which are already launched, and which we also intend to support with this common approach between the [European] Commission, our agency and the European industry. So maybe the most important thing on this slide [refers to presentation slide 22] is notice our common goal is to open the European airspace and to have a technology demonstration to produce UAV systems that can routinely fly across national borders.
Saab has already has shown this slide [refers to presentation slide 23] which means that we have a first target in 2011 to allow military and state UAVs to fly in non-segregated airspace and the second purpose is to allow other types of UAVs, civilian UAVs to fly around 2013-2014. To support this effort, this common effort, we will fund the first study this year and the European Commission will fund the following one during the next five years in order to be able to have the good result in time. This is a very ambitious time schedule; this is a big effort for EU members but this is [illegible] in order to allow all our families of UAVs to fly in non segregated airspace.
What about maritime surveillance [refers to presentation slide 24]? This is another activity of our agency and we have a specific group working on the development of maritime surveillance. There is already a requirement which was written for a specific payload for long endurance UAV and we are convinced that we need absolutely to have for maritime surveillance a combination of long endurance UAV and tactical UAV. Even if we are able to apply a sort of modular approach and have the same platform for all types of mission, this type of concept of modularity has to be analysed at the group level in order to avoid to have just one platform able to fulfil all the tasks, but with a range of success which is, which remains, very low.
We would like to have the opportunity to launch a programme in cooperation to have an initial capability for the maritime tactical UAV in 2012. It is on very short notice but we are confident that with the support of industry, the European industry would be able to achieve this capability on time in 2012.
So to conclude [refers to slide 26], short term target for UAVs is to fly over Europe by 2010 or 2011. We have three parallel efforts, three parallel trends. Long endurance UAVs, we are continuing to work on it. Maritime tactical UAV and feasibility studies, mainly focussing on these 10 R&T priorities which were represented. And about the organisational approach at the EU level, I think this initiative launch with the EU commission is really important to allow UAVs to fly everywhere, and to take into account the existing initiatives. The last item is to support the build of a consortium or organisation of companies from across Europe to initiate this activity. The most important thing is that we have not enough - in each European country we have not enough capabilities in terms of budget and in terms of industry in order to launch individual programmes. So for that reason we are supporting, strongly supporting, the possibility of working together and coordinate our efforts.
So that concludes my briefing, I am now ready to answer any questions.
Moderator: Questions:
Question: I have got many questions I could ask, the first one of which is that if there is such a need for coordination at a European level and to bring people together, why have you completely closed out all the work that was funded by the European Commission on the UAVNET and the CAPECON projects? There is absolutely no engagement of those communities in this initiative. Why is that?
De Langlois: We are just starting. As I said we are a new agency and the idea is to take into account all the existing initiatives and we will have a first meeting at the beginning of July – I have to check the date because I am not sure of the date – and we will invite all the actors who are working in this area and it will be the case for talk.
Question: Is the harmonisation of procurement somehow associated with the dip in 2010-2012, the dip in your projection of the market? That was a funny projection. What is the dip? [Questions refers to presentation slide 9]. How come there is a decrease in the market between 2010 and 2012 of the projections?
De Langlois: This is just an evaluation and I cannot explain. We have the change over – I think this projection is a little bit old and I think there is an evolution. Maybe the people who have made this evaluation, I think maybe they were a little bit optimistic at the beginning. Also the difference between naval UAVs and other UAVs, I am not sure this difference is a good one. So this slide was just to illustrate the development of the market and not to explain why there is an evolution like that. I cannot explain that. Sorry for that.
Question: What is the relationship between the proposed long endurance UAV development effort and the role that the EDA played in trying to work out what happened after the collapse of Euromale? Can you fill us in? There is about six months of history there that is not really clear.
De Langlois: So the problem you have mentioned is the collapse of the Euromale project. So the problem is after this failure of this programme it is always difficult to restart and to launch a new initiative. We have two opportunities. The first is a new project named Advanced UAV with the contribution of Spain, Germany and France maybe. But for the time being they have some problems with the harmonisation of their own requirements so this project is not under the lead of EDA for the time being, maybe in the future. It is too early.
The second initiative is to relaunch this long endurance approach with the Commission in order to, as I said in the previous slide, in order to develop a common modular architecture with the idea that the work on the platform will be conducted by the European Commission and we will work on the sensors and the payload. This is the basic idea. We didn’t start anything but this is just an idea for the time being.
Question: In the context of Framework Seven, which is completely turning it in what has been said publicly thus far, Framework Seven is completely excluding UAVs. So how is the Commission linking it up? I realise you are not the Commission but how is that position by the Commission corresponding with what you are saying here?
De Langlois: Framework programme is a research programme which is funded for the next seven years in the security arena, just the security arena. They have about €200 million a year. One of the projects is to support this initiative on airworthiness. The first programmes for this year is focussed mainly on that. But industry has to make some proposals before the end of this month and the Commission will evaluate the interest of these proposals. I hope, I do not belong to the Commission but I hope they will support some other UAV initiatives. I hope. But also for your information we are involved in the evaluation committee. We are experts participating, as are some other people, we are participating in the evaluation committee. It is important.
Source: Flight International
