Wed, Jul 14, 2010
Government Bills The UAS As "The Combat Aircraft Of The
Future"
Taranis ... a prototype unmanned "combat aircraft of the future"
... was unveiled by the UK Ministry of Defence for the first time
Monday.
Named after the Celtic god of thunder, the concept demonstrator
will test the possibility of developing the first ever autonomous
stealthy Unmanned Combat Air Vehicle (UCAV) that would ultimately
be capable of precisely striking targets at long range, even in
another continent. Should such systems enter into service, they
will at all times be under the control of highly trained military
crews on the ground.
“Taranis is a truly trailblazing project," Gerald Howarth,
Minister for International Security Strategy, said at the unveiling
ceremony at BAE Systems in Warton, Lancashire. "The first of its
kind in the UK, it reflects the best of our nation’s advanced
design and technology skills and is a leading program on the global
stage.”
Representing the pinnacle of UK engineering and aeronautical
design, Taranis is an informal partnership of the UK MoD and
industry talents including BAE Systems, Rolls Royce, QinetiQ and GE
Aviation.
"Taranis has been three and a half years in the making and is
the product of more than a million man-hours, said Nigel Whitehead,
Group managing director of BAE Systems' Programs & Support
business. It represents a significant step forward in this
country's fast-jet capability. This technology is key to sustaining
a strong industrial base and to maintain the UK's leading position
as a center for engineering excellence and innovation."
The Taranis prototype will provide the UK MoD with critical
knowledge on the technical and manufacturing challenges and the
potential capabilities of Unmanned Combat Air Systems.
Flight testing is set to begin in 2011.
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