UAV round-upBAE Systems to build U.K. UAV demonstrator
£124 million project the third in succession for the Ministry of Defense; UAV said to be similar to company’s Hawk system; first flight expected in 2010; Rolls Royce, QinetiQ, and Smiths Aerospace also involved; BAE is looking for British vendors
More success for BAE Systems. The company has been named prime contractor for a £124 million project to develop a world-class UAV demonstrator program called Taranis. Named after the Celtic god of thunder, the Taranis demonstrator — modeled at a similar size as the BAE Systems Hawk UAV — will help the British Ministry of Defense learn about the capabilities and limits of UAV technology. This is the third such program in succession, the first two being the Replica and Nightjar UAV demonstrators. Ground testing of Taranis is expected to take place in early 2009 with the first flight trials taking place in 2010.
Investors take note: Other companies involved in the program inclue: Rolls-Royce (next generation propulsion), Smiths Aerospace (vehicle systems) and QinetiQ (systems integration and control). In addition, BAE has made it clear that U.K.-based suppliers will receive special attention as potential technology vendors. “This project supports many of the key drivers outlined in the Defence Industrial Strategy — in particular the way in which we, as a nation, continue to develop a sustainable sovereign capability by supporting UK design and engineering skills,” said Mike Turner, chief executive of BAE Systems.
-read more in this company news release
