Europe Develops Robotic Warplanes

Source URL: http://www.strategypage.com/htmw/htairfo/articles/20060327.aspx
Posted at: http://www.air-attack/com/news/news_article/1316

March 27, 2006: In Europe, several robotic warplanes ( the Neuron, the Barrakuda and the Corax) are under development. These UACV (Unmanned Aerial Combat Vehicles) concepts began in the Untied States, but Europe wants to remain competitive with the U.S. military aircraft industry.
All three programs include stealth features, and aim on playing in the same league as the American J-UCAS (Joint Unmanned Combat Aerial System). This program includes the Boeing X45C and the Northrop Grumman X47B Pegasus. These European projects are the first foreign competitors for the American robotic warplane work.

The Neuron project is a six nation European effort, which is for research, not development of a system for regular service. Instead , the $480 million project should only produce a flying prototype by 2010. This effort should keep the European aerospace design offices busy and maintain and further improve their know how for upcoming years. In this timeframe no new tactical combat aircraft programs will be launched in Europe, due to the recent introduction of the Eurofighter and the Rafale. The work on the Neuron should establish a cooperative network of European industrial teams, capable of integrating advanced technologies in a single manned or unmanned platform for replacement of existing systems after 2030.

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