Kestrel Aerospace is to take unit space at the ParcAberporth UAV centre of excellence this month and expects to begin tethered tests and flight evaluations of its Lancer air vehicle “within weeks”.
Kestrel had hoped to unveil its unmanned Lancer prototype at the 7 September demonstration and exhibition, but is still completing the air vehicle at its Stoke-on-Trent facility, says company director Simon Scott.
Future testing will take place at ParcAberporth, but all manufacturing activities of the unmanned Lancer and an optionally-piloted variant will remain at its current headquarters, he says.
The Lancer UAV has an all-up weight of 80kg (175lb), a mission endurance of up to 12h and will operate at speeds of up to 156kt (290km/h). Powered by two tilting fan engines, the platform is being promoted for a variety of military and civilian missions, including surveillance and power cable monitoring.
Source: Flight International
