EADS Uses New Target Drone System
Friedrichshafen, 30 June 2003
EADS will carry out target presentation for air defence training of the German Air Force with the new DO-DT 25 drone system. Following a competition, Dornier GmbH, a unit of EADS, obtained the order for the supply of drones and the performance of missions. As reported by the company on Monday, this order was awarded for four exercise campaigns by the Federal Office of Defence Technology and Procurement (BWB). The Systems & Defence Electronics (S&DE) Business Unit will be responsible for the production, delivery and operation of the drone systems.
The DO-DT 25 drone was specifically developed in accordance with the user requirements to be met by an aerial target system for V/SHORADS (short-range air defence systems). It has a length of 3m, a wing span of 2.5m and a take-off weight of 120kg. It is driven by two turbo air-jet engines and is equipped with an advanced GPS-supported flight guidance and navigation system. The launch is carried out by a pneumatically operating catapult, the landing is assured by a two-step parachute recovery system. The drone can fly manoeuvres up to load factors of 5g and reach speeds of up to 450 km/h in straight flight.
In 2002, BWB conducted survey campaigns on a military testing site and on a firing range in order to qualify the target drone system for firing with STINGER and IGLA missiles, as well as with the LeFlaSys weapon system (light air defence system of the Air Force and the Army). The focus was on the presentation of a realistic and sufficient infra-red signature. The DO-DT 25 drone successfully passed this qualification. The first exercise campaign was successfully conducted in spring 2003 by Dornier on the firing range Putlos, Baltic Sea. In this campaign, missions were demonstrated with two DO-DT 25 drones in formation flight. The other campaigns will be conducted in September of this year in Putlos and on the USTKA firing range in Poland.
Dornier GmbH is a corporate unit of EADS. With revenues of 30.8 billion euros and a workforce of more than 100,000 employees, EADS is a leading aerospace and defence company and the second largest company of this industry. It is one of the market leaders in defence technology, civil aviation, helicopters, space technology, military transport and combat aircraft, as well as related services.
Friedrichshafen, June 30, 2003/02003
Press contact:
EADS Systems & Defence Electronics
Lothar Belz
Phone: +49 (731) 392-3681
E-mail: lothar.belz@sysde.eads.net
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