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BAE Systems Unveils Taranis Combat Aircraft

19 Jul 2010 | Ref. 144/2010

Farnborough, UK -- A prototype unmanned combat aircraft of the future, Taranis, was unveiled by the UK Ministry of Defence at BAE Systems’ Warton facility in Lancashire, UK on 12 July.

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.

Speaking at the unveiling ceremony at, the UK Government’s Minister for International Security Strategy, Gerald Howarth said: “Taranis is a truly trailblazing project. 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 programme on the global stage.”

Representing the pinnacle of UK engineering and aeronautical design, Taranis is an informal partnership of the MOD and industry talents including BAE Systems, Rolls Royce, QinetiQ and GE Aviation.

Nigel Whitehead, Group managing director of BAE Systems' Programmes & Support business, speaking on behalf of the industry team, said: "Taranis has been three and a half years in the making and is the product of more than a million man-hours. 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 centre for engineering excellence and innovation."

The Taranis prototype will provide the MOD with critical knowledge on the technical and manufacturing challenges and the potential capabilities of Unmanned Combat Air Systems.
Flight trials are due in 2011.

About BAE Systems

BAE Systems is a global defence, security and aerospace company with approximately 107,000 employees worldwide. The Company delivers a full range of products and services for air, land and naval forces, as well as advanced electronics, security, information technology solutions and customer support services. In 2009 BAE Systems reported sales of £22.4 billion (US$ 36.2 billion).

For further information from BAE Systems:

Adam Morrison, BAE Systems
Tel: + 44 (0)1772 852714 Mob: + 44 (0)7525 390393
Email: adam.morrison@baesystems.com

Leonie Foster, BAE Systems
Tel: +44 (0) 1252 383777 Mob: +44 (0) 7540 630168
Email: leonie.foster@baesystems.com

Issued by:

BAE Systems, Farnborough, Hampshire GU14 6YU, UK
Tel: +44 (0) 1252 384719 Fax: +44 (0) 1252 383947
24hr media hotline: + 44 (0) 7801 717739
www.baesystems.com

Background Information

The Taranis project is a tremendous example of UK Industry and MOD working together and investing together to secure advancements in technology and capability to meet the anticipated future requirements of the armed forces. .

A Project Charter was signed between DE&S, BAE Systems, Rolls-Royce, QinetiQ and GE Aviation to work together to design, manufacture, and test and fly an experimental 'mission representative' UAV system. With BAE Systems as prime contractor to DE&S, the Team Taranis partners have worked closely with the customer and Industry to develop and demonstrate new technologies on a flying demonstrator.

BAE Systems

As prime contractor, through its Military Air Solutions business, BAE Systems is providing many elements of the Taranis technology demonstrator, including the low observability, systems integration, control infrastructure and full autonomy elements (in partnership with QinetiQ).

Other BAE Systems companies involved in Taranis include BAE Systems Australia, who supply the flight control computing and BAE Systems Integrated System Technologies (INSYTE) which is responsible for the vehicle’s control infrastructure and the effective integration and interoperability of Taranis within the UK’s operations and battlespace infrastructure. This gives commanders improved situation awareness and the ability to make rapid, informed decisions.

Rolls-Royce

Rolls-Royce is the world's number two defence aero engine company with 160 customers in 103 countries. The company offers engines in all key defence market sectors and is well positioned on a number of new programmes that will deliver products over the next decade and beyond.

Participation in the Taranis programme has enabled Rolls-Royce to demonstrate its world class capability in the field of Unmanned Air Vehicle propulsion systems. In addition to the supply of the core engine for Taranis, Rolls-Royce has been involved in the integration of innovative and class-leading low observable technologies to meet the airframe requirements.

Rolls-Royce has now completed the design, analysis and rig testing of the new propulsion system hardware and, with the majority of the components manufactured, is now focussing on the instrumentation and assembly phases with bench testing to be completed by the end of the year.

QinetiQ

QinetiQ, drawing on its core technologies, evaluation facilities and systems is responsible for several of the critical elements of the Taranis programme. These include the high level reasoning software which will contribute to the vehicle's autonomous capability, enabling the airframe to perform its mission in an optimal fashion, while taking into account uncertainty and unplanned external events. QinetiQ’s provision and integration of the communications sub-system and associated antennas is equally important as this enables robust communications between the platform and the ground station without compromising its covert design specifications. And finally the test range flight safety sub-system provided by QinetiQ underpins the safety case for the aircraft during the test and evaluation phases of the project.