Taranis Makes Maiden Flight

The BAE Systems Taranis unmanned combat air vehicle (UCAV) demonstrator has made its maiden flight and is currently conducting initial flight trials, the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) confirmed to IHS Jane's on 25 October.

"Flight trials [on Taranis] are currently ongoing," an MoD spokesperson told IHS Jane's .

Neither the MoD nor BAE Systems was able to confirm the date of the maiden flight at this stage. However, a full statement by the MoD will be issued when the Taranis flight trial programme has been completed, the spokesperson said.

Flights are understood to be ongoing at the Royal Australian Air Force's Woomera Testing Range in South Australia. The United Kingdom has used the site extensively in the past to test new military equipment, including the Mantis unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) in 2009.

Meanwhile, in evidence to the UK Parliament's Defence Select Committee, the MoD separately confirmed on 25 October that "Taranis ground tests commenced in 2010 and flight trials took place in 2013".

The spokesperson said this was partially incorrect as it implied flight trials had been completed rather than currently in progress, as is the case.

A BAE Systems spokesperson told IHS Jane's that they were unable to add anything at this point beyond the MoD's confirmation. The United Kingdom is highly secretive about the Taranis UCAV, which is known to have been seen in public on only two occasions.

BAE Systems has previously commented to IHS Jane's , "We expect the first flight trials to take place in 2013. Testing on this system requires a very different approach and testing regime from traditional manned platforms. The system will be comprehensively and extensively 'flown' on the ground for many hours. This thorough and robust testing activity is the major stepping stone needed to ensure that the system progresses into its flight testing phase in a safe and low-risk manner."

The first flight of Taranis follows on from the maiden flight of the pan-European Neuron UCAV technology demonstrator on 1 December 2012 and extensive carrier-based testing of the Northrop Grumman X-47B in 2013.

Taranis is not intended to enter production, but is instead a technology demonstrator vehicle (TDV). According to the MoD evidence to Parliament, "It will provide the MoD with experimental evidence on the potential capabilities, helping to inform decisions on the future mix of manned and remotely piloted systems."

The total cost of the Taranis project is GBP180 million (USD291.3 million). "The TDV will demonstrate the successful integration of off-the-shelf technologies, including automation, command and control, sensor integration, and payload integration," according to the MoD evidence. "The TDV is not designed to drop weapons, but will include simulated weapon release as part of a mission-representative scenario."

The United Kingdom is considering a UCAV as part of the basis for the UK Royal Air Force's deep strike capabilities. The United Kingdom "has long held a requirement for capabilities that allow the timely engagement of targets deep behind enemy lines. While this has historically been fulfilled by manned aircraft, it is recognised that an UCAS [unmanned combat air system] could offer a cost-effective solution in the future", the MoD stated in its evidence to Parliament.

In July 2012 the United Kingdom and France agreed to share technical expertise gained from the Taranis and Neuron programmes over an 18-month period to determine whether a potential joint Ango-French UCAV development/procurement programme, known as Future Combat Air System (FCAS), is viable.

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