03 Dec 2007 | Ref. 379/2007
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TARANIS
First Composite component in manufacture
Langkawi, Malaysia – Work is underway on the first composite component for the UK’s Taranis UAS (Unmanned Air System) technology demonstrator programme. Taranis is the largest Unmanned Combat Air Vehicle ever commissioned in the United Kingdom.
The composite part now being layed-up by BAE Systems is the aft section of the engine main air intake duct. The duct is being manufactured using state-of-the-art fibre placement technology within the Special Engineering Composite Facility (SECF) at BAE Systems at Samlesbury, UK.
Earlier this year BAE Systems marked the cutting of the first metal for the UK’s £124m Taranis UCAV (unmanned combat air vehicle) technology demonstrator programme ensuring that the BAE Systems led team remains well on track for first flight in 2010. In addition to the first metal cut and composite lay-up, the design of the autonomous systems has also been finalised.
Taranis, at about the size of a BAE Systems Hawk advanced jet trainer, will be the largest UAS ever built in the UK and will explore and demonstrate how emerging technologies and systems can deliver battle-winning capabilities for the UK armed forces. BAE Systems is the industry lead and prime contractor with other industry partners comprising QinetiQ, Rolls-Royce and the systems division of GE Aviation (formally Smiths Aerospace).
Chris Allam, BAE Systems’ Taranis project director, said: “In addition to the actual build now being well underway, the brains of Taranis are designed and coherent. What we have designed is a system that can autonomously control the aircraft to taxi, take off, and navigate its way to a search area while reacting to any threats or other events. It will then route its way around the search area in whichever way it wants to, locate the target, and then use its sensor system to transmit a series of images and views back to the operator to confirm it is the target to be attacked. Then, once it has been authorised to do so, it autonomously attacks that target, routes its way back home, lands and taxies back.”
About BAE Systems
BAE Systems is the premier global defence and aerospace company delivering a full range of products and services for air, land and naval forces, as well as advanced electronics, information technology solutions and customer support services. With 96,000 employees worldwide, BAE Systems' sales exceeded £15 billion (US $27 billion) in 2006 *.
* On a pro forma basis, assuming BAE Systems had owned Armor Holdings Inc for the whole of 2006
For further information, please contact:
Andy Bunce, BAE Systems
Tel: + 44 (0)1772 852714 Mobile: + 44 (0)7801 716448
andy.bunce@baesystems.com
Scott Hailstone, BAE Systems
Tel: +44 (0) 1252 384725 Mob: +44 (0)7793 423068
scott.hailstone@baesystems.com
Issued by:
BAE Systems, Farnborough, Hampshire GU14 6YU, UK
Tel: +44 (0) 1252 384605 Fax: +44 (0) 1252 383947
24hr media hotline: + 44 (0) 7801 717739
www.baesystems.com
