Serbian-Montenegrin company hopes to secure additional funding for UAV programme from foreign manufacturers
Serbian-Montenegrin manufacturer Utva Aircraft Industry is preparing to resume flight trials of its half-scale Gavran-I unmanned air vehicle. This will follow the completion of work to replace the demonstrator's current surveillance cameras and other onboard systems, Utva says.
Utva conducted five flights with its proof-of-concept Gavran-I UAVbetween May and September 2000, but suspended the development programme after an initial combined order from the country's armed forces and police force was cancelled. The company had initially planned to last year launch serial production of the full-size Gavran-II, also known as Raven-II, at its facilities in Pancevo outside Belgrade, but still awaits development funds to advance the project.
Tonko Mihovilovic, senior engineer at Utva, says structural work, including reinforcing the UAV's landing gear, has taken place over the past four years. The prototype's two fixed cameras are to be replaced with directional versions, and its flight-control system is also to undergo upgrade.
The glassfibre Gavran-II air vehicle is planned to have a wingspan of 2.4m (7.8ft), a total length of 2m and a fuselage width of 250mm (9.8in). Initial specifications call for the design to have a maximum take-off weight of around 30kg (66lb), including all systems and fuel. Utva has yet to select a piston engine to power the design, which it expects to have a mission endurance of 2-3h. The company's current Gavran-I demonstrator has a maximum flight time of 45min.
Utva acknowledges that it lacks the resources to continue development activity on the Gavran system beyond its next series of test flights, but says it is hopeful of securing additional funding from foreign manufacturers.
Tomislav Bjelogrlic, Utva general manager, says the Gavran-II will be offered initially to border patrol and law enforcement agencies for a range of surveillance applications. The company is also seeking an amendment to the Dayton peace accord to enable it to manufacture systems for military applications.
JUSTIN WASTNAGE / PANCEVO
Source: Flight International
