Urgent European requirements for medium-altitude long-endurance UAVs are stimulating a rush of activity
European armed forces' collective requirements for medium-altitude long-endurance (MALE) unmanned air vehicles are substantial enough to reshape the market globally.
Spain wants aircraft immediately to deal with urgent border security problems. Germany wants them as soon as possible for service in Afghanistan. France is about to transfer an interim endurance system - the EADS Eagle Block 0 - to operational service but wants a definitive solution from 2014. The Netherlands used to have an arrangement with France that would have seen UAVs arrive in 2010. Italy has acquired a small number of General Atomics MQ-1 Predator aircraft from the USA, but wants greater capability soon. And Sweden and Finland want systems in the near future if they can sort out funding.
Between 2010 and 2015, Europe's armed forces are likely to buy up to 50 endurance UAVs, a fleet to rival that planned by the USA. It is a �1 billion ($1.34 billion) opportunity that is not lost on Europe's defence and aerospace manufacturers.
For European industry, hungry to sustain its capabilities and to step up its technological competitiveness, the continent's collective endurance UAV requirement is a perfect opportunity to leverage skills developed on the Dassault Rafale and Eurofighter Typhoon ahead of the eventual launch of a new-generation combat aircraft programme. Endurance UAVs could also bridge the gap between the civil and military markets, providing another offshoot for capability built up in support of Airbus.
Euromale fallout
Europe's first foray into the MALE domain, the Euromale programme that linked French and Dutch requirements with a derivative of Israel Aerospace Industries' Heron, is now a year dead, but its fallout continues. The Netherlands defence minister publicly criticised French acquisition authorities a few months ago over their handling of that initiative. Meanwhile the European Commission and European Defence Agency have spent the past year quietly discussing options for a multinational development initiative and in May signalled a potential programme launch.
But the message emerging from the Paris air show was that European industry is not waiting, and European governments are getting impatient. EADS, which has shifted the focus of its MALE UAV aspirations from France to Germany in the wake of the Euromale debacle, is in prime position. France and Germany agreed at the show to launch formal ministerial and industrial talks on a development initiative based on EADS's modular "Advanced UAV" concept, with Spain expected to sign up within weeks.
Alenia, Dassault and Saab announced they are to co-operate on an alternative solution using the industrial alliance developed for the Neuron unmanned combat air vehicle demonstrator programme and are lobbying for government support. Alenia Aeronautica has pushed its claim on the market by staging the debut flight of its first MALE demonstrator.
The Italian company also raised the transatlantic issue, with its technical experts warning that, without a common initiative, the European MALE UAV fleet would carry "made in the USA" stickers.
Dassault has not limited its exploration of opportunities to its Neuron partners, and has been talking with Israel Aerospace Industries about derivatives of the Heron family.
Enter the US industry. General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, whose Predator B defines the current state of the art for MALE UAV technology, has been actively marketing in Germany and the Netherlands for nearly five years. It used the air show to announce that its relationship with Diehl, aimed at German requirements, would be the basis of a wider European marketing effort. The core message was that European needs can be met right now, rather than waiting on any European development efforts.
Export customers
Northrop Grumman is giving the same message, as it seeks more export customers for its RQ-4 Global Hawk, a high-altitude, long-endurance platform. Germany has five of the UAVs on order, and Spain has come close to a purchase over the past 18 months.
Israel offered a further alternative, with IAI using the air show to unveil its Eitan or Heron TP UAV for the first time and to reinforce its own marketing message that Europe does have an alternative to US systems if it wants to buy now. IAI officials said the option is on the table for the company to establish its own industrial infrastructure in Europe.
If Euromale had succeeded, a Block 1 aircraft would probably have made its debut at this year's Paris show. The appearance of IAI's Eitan was a haunting reminder of what could have been and what happens when Europe fails to pursue goals collectively.
Source: Flight International
