Neuron UCAV to have twin internal weapons bays

Posted on: Dec. 1st, 2006 || Source: Flight Global | E-mail Article | Print Article

Neuron UCAV to have twin internal weapons bays

Dassault Aviation has revealed that the consortium developing the Neuron unmanned combat air vehicle demonstrator now plans to fit the aircraft with twin internal weapons bays under newly released revised configuration details, designated design "781-20".

The consortium also plans to use Mk82 and GBU 12 bombs to carry out proposed ground strike testing of the aircraft once its basic flight characteristics have been proven.
The 781-20 configuration is near final, says Dassault vice-president for international relations Yves Robins, but further refinements are possible. “The overall shape definition is almost decided upon.”
Design 781-20 strengthens the visual parallels between Neuron and the Boeing X-45A, with near identical forward fuselage side profiles, but differing wing forms. Design 781-20 has a wing area of 50m2 (540ft2) compared with 36m2 for the X-45A and 58m2 for the X45C.
“The main advantage of this choice obviously is in both controllability and radar cross section.”
Speaking at the IQPC UCAV 2006 conference in London 28 November, Robins said the overall design cleared its first intermediate “synthesis” review in September, with a second to follow in February to mark the end of the project pre-feasibility phase.

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