DCNS and Thales awarded Phase 2 of the UAV Deck Landing Study D2AD
17 June 2009
The French defence procurement agency (DGA) has awarded DCNS and Thales the second phase of the D2AD* study to design and demonstrate an automatic takeoff, landing and deck landing system for rotary-wing UAVs. Phase 2 demonstration trials will be conducted in Mesa, Arizona, and will use the AH-6U Little Bird unmanned helicopter from Boeing.
Landing tests on fixed and moving platforms will pave the way for deck landing trials on a French Navy vessel at sea, planned for mid-2011.
The DGA awarded the D2AD study contract in late 2008 as part of a broader risk reduction effort to support future tactical UAV programmes for the French Navy and Army. The DCNS/Thales system demonstrator will incorporate the full spectrum of operational constraints related to takeoff, landing and deck landing operations, including the required levels of discretion in a range of environmental, weather and sea state conditions.
Thales is responsible for the landing system, the UAV system and the trajectory control system. DCNS is responsible for ship motion prediction, the deck landing strategy and for securing the UAV to the flight deck.
The D2AD study is conducted in three phases:
· Phase 1 includes definition of a complete set of specifications for the D2AD system and associated interfaces.
· Phase 2, awarded in early May, includes development of the demonstrator and trials on land.
· Phase 3 will conclude the study with final deck landing trials on a French Navy vessel in high sea state conditions (up to sea state 5).
*D2AD: Démonstration d'un système d'appontage et d'atterrissage pour drones (UAV landing system demonstration programme)
About DCNS
The DCNS Group is one of Europe’s leading players on the world market for naval defence systems. To meet customer demands for more comprehensive and integrated systems, DCNS acts as prime contractor for naval shipbuilding, integration and support by combining its own development, marketing and production capabilities with those of selected partners. To manage the complexity of such projects, the Group draws on in-house expertise in naval architecture and systems engineering, ship assembly and integration and equipment design and production, as well as through-life support. The DCNS Group employs 13,000 people and generates annual revenues of around €2.8 billion.
About Thales
Thales is a global technology leader for the Aerospace, Space, Defence, Security and Transportation markets. In 2008, the company generated revenues of 12.7 billion euros with 68,000 employees in 50 countries. With its 25,000 engineers and researchers, Thales has a unique capability to design, develop and deploy equipment, systems and services that meet the most complex security requirements. Thales has an exceptional international footprint, with operations around the world working with customers as local partners. www.thalesgroup.com
Thales is exhibiting at the Paris Air Show from 15 – 21 June. Please come and visit us at stand B233.
Press contacts
Bertrand Baudry
DCNS
+ 33 2 97 12 19 67
bertrand.baudry@dcnsgroup.com
Natasha Harvey
Thales
+ 33 1 34 81 40 50
natasha.Harvey@fr.thalesgroup.com
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