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The development of UAVs was a key part of the UK's [[Defence Industrial Strategy]], which was announced in December 2005, and specified the need for the UK to maintain its "sovereign" aircraft and UAV/UCAV construction skills.<ref name="BAE press"/><ref>{{cite news | title = MoD To Invest in UAV Technology | url = http://www.modoracle.com/?page=http://www.modoracle.com/news/detail.h2f?id=12175 | work = MoD Oracle | publisher = NSI (Holdings) Ltd | date = 7 December 2006 | accessdate = 9 December 2006 }}{{dead link|date=September 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> The Strategic Unmanned Air Vehicles (Experiment) Integrated Project Team, or SUAV(E) IPT, was given responsibility for auditing and overseeing the Taranis project.<ref name="Ministry of Defence">{{cite news|title=Strategic Unmanned Air Vehicles (Experiment) Integrated Project Team |publisher=Ministry of Defence |year=2009 |url=http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/tna/+/http://www.mod.uk/defenceinternet/microsite/des/ourteams/air/strategicunmannedairvehiclesexperimentintegratedprojectteam.htm |accessdate=13 July 2010 }}{{dead link|date=October 2016 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>
The development of UAVs was a key part of the UK's [[Defence Industrial Strategy]], which was announced in December 2005, and specified the need for the UK to maintain its "sovereign" aircraft and UAV/UCAV construction skills.<ref name="BAE press"/><ref>{{cite news | title = MoD To Invest in UAV Technology | url = http://www.modoracle.com/?page=http://www.modoracle.com/news/detail.h2f?id=12175 | work = MoD Oracle | publisher = NSI (Holdings) Ltd | date = 7 December 2006 | accessdate = 9 December 2006 }}{{dead link|date=September 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> The Strategic Unmanned Air Vehicles (Experiment) Integrated Project Team, or SUAV(E) IPT, was given responsibility for auditing and overseeing the Taranis project.<ref name="Ministry of Defence">{{cite news|title=Strategic Unmanned Air Vehicles (Experiment) Integrated Project Team |publisher=Ministry of Defence |year=2009 |url=http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/tna/+/http://www.mod.uk/defenceinternet/microsite/des/ourteams/air/strategicunmannedairvehiclesexperimentintegratedprojectteam.htm |accessdate=13 July 2010 }}{{dead link|date=October 2016 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>


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==Design and development==
The Taranis project is led by BAE Systems, and also involves [[Rolls-Royce Holdings|Rolls-Royce]], [[GE Aviation Systems]], [[QinetiQ]] and the [[Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom)|Ministry of Defence]] (MoD).<ref name="BAE press">{{cite press release|title=BAE Systems to lead £124 million UAV technology demonstrator programme |publisher=BAE Systems plc |date=7 December 2006 |url=http://147.29.80.132/newsroom/2006/dec/071206news1.htm |accessdate=9 December 2006 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070613033420/http://147.29.80.132/newsroom/2006/dec/071206news1.htm |archivedate=13 June 2007 |df=dmy }}</ref> As the prime contractor, BAE Systems is responsible for the overall programme, and also for many of the component technologies, including stealth technology, systems integration and system control infrastructure.<ref name="Airforce Technology.com">{{cite news |title= Taranis Unmanned Combat Air Vehicle (UCAV) Demonstrator, United Kingdom |publisher= Airforce Technology.com |date= 13 July 2010 |url=http://www.airforce-technology.com/projects/tanaris/ |accessdate=13 July 2010| archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20100620103629/http://www.airforce-technology.com/projects/tanaris/| archivedate= 20 June 2010 | deadurl= no}}{{Unreliable source?|reason=domain on WP:BLACKLIST|date=June 2016}}</ref> BAE Systems and QinetiQ collaborated on all aspects relating to the autonomy of the system.

GE Aviation Systems (formerly Smiths Aerospace) is responsible for providing Taranis' fuel-gauging and electrical power systems.<ref name="Airforce Technology.com"/> Rolls-Royce is responsible for the UCAV's propulsion system,<ref name="mail"/> having a 5% workshare in the project, while the Integrated Systems Technologies (Insyte) subsidiary of BAE Systems is providing [[C4ISTAR]] support.<ref name="Airforce Technology.com"/>

At the project's inception, BAE Systems stated that "Taranis will make use of at least 10 years of research and development into low observables, systems integration, control infrastructure and full autonomy. It follows the completion of risk-reduction activities to ensure the mix of technologies, materials and systems used are robust enough for the 'next logical step'."<ref name="BAE press"/> These "risk-reduction activities" included several earlier BAE stealth aircraft and UAV programmes, such as [[BAE Replica|Replica]], Nightjar I, Nightjar II, Kestrel, [[BAE Corax|Corax]], Raven and [[BAE HERTI|HERTI]].

===Prototype===
[[File:Taranis Test Flight 10-09-2013.webm|thumb|A video of the Taranis prototype's test flight on 10 August 2013.]]

The first steel for the Taranis prototype was cut in September 2007, and assembly began in February 2008.<ref>[http://www.baesystems.com/Newsroom/NewsReleases/autoGen_10811916326.html "Assembly Starts of Taranis Unmanned Combat Air Vehicle"]. BAE. 2008. Retrieved 6 February 2013.</ref> On 9 January 2009, the Ministry of Defence denied that the Taranis had been flying near the site of a damaged [[wind turbine]], after local people claimed to have seen an [[UFO]].<ref>{{cite news | title = Telegraph: UFO turbine mystery theories in full | url = http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/howaboutthat/4206116/UFO-turbine-mystery-the-theories-in-full.html | accessdate = 9 January 2009 | work=The Daily Telegraph | location=London | date=9 January 2009| archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20090117041226/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/howaboutthat/4206116/UFO-turbine-mystery-the-theories-in-full.html| archivedate= 17 January 2009 | deadurl= no}}</ref>

The prototype, which had an initial development cost of £143 million, was unveiled by BAE Systems at [[Warton Aerodrome]], [[Lancashire]], on 12 July 2010.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/lancashire/hi/people_and_places/newsid_8811000/8811475.stm "Taranis unmanned stealth aircraft unveiled in Warton"]. BBC. 12 July 2010. Retrieved 11 November 2014.</ref><ref name="Sky News">{{cite news|title=Taranis: The £143m Fighter Jet Of The Future |publisher=Ministry of Defence |year=2010 |url=http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/UK-News/Taranis-MoD-And-BAE-Systems-Unveil-Futuristic-Unmanned-Fighter-Jet/Article/201007215663917?lpos=UK_News_Second_Home_Page_Article_Teaser_Region_0&lid=ARTICLE_15663917_Taranis:_MoD_And_BAE_Systems_Unveil_Futuristic_Unmanned_Fighter_Jet |accessdate=13 July 2010 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100715051514/http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/UK-News/Taranis-MoD-And-BAE-Systems-Unveil-Futuristic-Unmanned-Fighter-Jet/Article/201007215663917?lpos=UK_News_Second_Home_Page_Article_Teaser_Region_0&lid=ARTICLE_15663917_Taranis%3A_MoD_And_BAE_Systems_Unveil_Futuristic_Unmanned_Fighter_Jet |archivedate=15 July 2010 |deadurl=yes |df=dmy }}</ref> Ground tests of the prototype began in 2010,<ref name="BAE Systems">{{cite news |title= Taranis |publisher= BAE Systems |url=http://www.baesystems.com/product/BAES_020273/taranis?_afrWindowId=zqxrzih9v_1&_afrLoop=45536910336000&_afrWindowMode=0&_adf.ctrl-state=zqxrzih9v_4 |accessdate=3 June 2012}}</ref> and flight trials were initially expected to begin in 2011.<ref name="mail" /> However, the aircraft's first flight was later delayed to 2012,<ref>[http://www.defensenews.com/story.php?i=7851146 "Europe's industry cuts jobs"]. Defense News. 2 October 2011. Retrieved 22 October 2011.</ref> then delayed further and finally took place on 10 August 2013.<ref name=firstflight>{{cite news |url=http://www.theengineer.co.uk/aerospace/news/taranis-test-flights-to-inform-design-of-future-combat-aircraft/1017966.article |date=5 February 2014 |accessdate=6 February 2014|title=Taranis test flights to inform design of future combat aircraft|work=[[The Engineer (magazine)|The Engineer]]}}</ref>

The prototype has a [[maximum takeoff weight]] (MTOW) of about {{convert|8000|kg|abbr=on}}, and is of a similar size to the [[BAE Hawk]] [[jet trainer|training jet]]. It has two internal weapons bays,<ref name=UAVGlobal>{{cite web|url=http://www.uavglobal.com/bae-systems-taranis/|title=BAE Systems Taranis|work=UAVGlobal}}</ref> and is intended to incorporate "full autonomy", allowing it to operate without human control for a large part of its mission.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.newscientist.com/article/dn19162-warning-sounded-over-british-dogfighting-drone.html|title=Warning sounded over British dogfighting drone|last=Marks|first=Paul|date=12 July 2010|publisher=New Scientist|accessdate=12 July 2010| archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20100714155611/http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn19162-warning-sounded-over-british-dogfighting-drone.html| archivedate= 14 July 2010 | deadurl= no}}</ref>

===Flight testing===
On 25 October 2013, the UK Ministry of Defence revealed that initial flight tests had already taken place. Ground tests were conducted in 2010 and flight trials occurred in 2013. The MoD did not officially comment on the Taranis until the initial trials programme had been completed.<ref name=FGlobal>[http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/unmanned-taranis-has-flown-mod-reveals-392177/ "Unmanned Taranis has flown, MoD reveals"]. Flightglobal.com. 25 October 2013. Retrieved 10 November 2014.</ref>

On 5 February 2014, BAE revealed information on the Taranis' flight tests. The UCAV's first flight occurred on 10 August 2013 at [[Woomera Test Range]] in [[South Australia]]. This flight lasted for approximately 15 minutes. A second sortie was launched on 17 August, and subsequent flights surpassed expectations for the airframe, flying at various speeds and heights for as long as one hour.<ref name=FGsilence/> By 2014, the Taranis' development costs had reached £185 million, compared to £140 million as originally projected. The Taranis is planned to be operational "post 2030" and used in concert with manned aircraft.<ref name=FGsilence>[http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/video-uk-ends-silence-on-taranis-testing-395574/ "VIDEO: UK ends silence on Taranis testing"]. Flightglobal.com. 5 February 2014. Retrieved 11 November 2014.</ref>

As of 2016 BAE Systems and UK MoD were in discussions about a fourth series of flight tests.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.janes.com/article/61149/more-flights-of-uk-s-taranis-ucav-possible |title=More flights of UK's Taranis UCAV possible |last1=Ripley |first1=Tim |date=14 June 2016 |website=www.janes.com |publisher=IHS Jane's Defence Weekly |accessdate=18 December 2016}}</ref>

===Follow-on development===
Under the terms of an Anglo-French development contract announced in 2014, parts from the Taranis will be combined with the [[Dassault nEUROn]] in a joint European UCAV, the [[Future Combat Air System]].<ref>[http://www.defense-aerospace.com/article-view/release/158649/france%2C-uk-launch-%E2%82%AC250m%2C-two_year-feasibility-study-of-combat-uav.html "Award of £120M Anglo-French Defence Co-Operation Contract"]. Defense-Aerospace.com. 5 November 2014. Retrieved 11 November 2014.</ref>


==Specifications==
==Specifications==

Revision as of 13:01, 19 January 2018

Taranis
Role Autonomous UAV/UCAV
Manufacturer BAE Systems Military Air & Information
First flight 10th August 2013
Status In development
Primary user United Kingdom
Produced 2010-present
Number built 1

The BAE Systems Taranis (also nicknamed "Raptor") is a British demonstrator programme for unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV) technology, under development primarily by the defence contractor BAE Systems Military Air & Information. The aircraft, which is named after the Celtic god of thunder Taranis, first flew in 2013.[1][2] An unmanned warplane, the Taranis is designed to fly intercontinental missions, and will carry a variety of weapons, enabling it to attack both aerial and ground targets. It will use stealth technology, giving it a low radar profile, and it will be controllable via satellite link from anywhere on Earth.[3][4] An operational derivative of the Taranis, the proposed Future Combat Air System is expected to enter military service after 2030.[5]

Background

Model of BAE Taranis UAV on display at Farnborough Airshow in 2008.

The development of UAVs was a key part of the UK's Defence Industrial Strategy, which was announced in December 2005, and specified the need for the UK to maintain its "sovereign" aircraft and UAV/UCAV construction skills.[6][7] The Strategic Unmanned Air Vehicles (Experiment) Integrated Project Team, or SUAV(E) IPT, was given responsibility for auditing and overseeing the Taranis project.[8]

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Specifications

Data from Airforce-Technology.com[9]

General characteristics

  • Length: 12.43 m (40 ft 9 in)
  • Wingspan: 10 m (32 ft 10 in) (approximate)[10]
  • Height: 4 m (13 ft 1 in)
  • Powerplant: 1 × Rolls-Royce Adour Moderate by-pass ratio turbofan engine, 44 kN (10,000 lbf) thrust (approximate)

Performance

  • Maximum speed: Mach > 1 (final version) [11]

Armament

  • 2 x internal missile bay provision[12]

See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to BAE Taranis.
Similar aircraft

References

  1. ^ Allison, George (5 February 2014). "Taranis stealth drone test flights successful". UK Defence Journal. Retrieved 6 February 2014.
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference FGlobal was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ Emery, Daniel (12 July 2010). "MoD lifts lid on unmanned combat plane prototype". BBC News. Archived from the original on 12 July 2010. Retrieved 12 July 2010. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  4. ^ "Taranis: The £143million unmanned stealth jet that will hit targets in another continent". Daily Mail. 12 July 2010. Archived from the original on 14 July 2010. Retrieved 12 July 2010. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  5. ^ Cite error: The named reference FGsilence was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  6. ^ Cite error: The named reference BAE press was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  7. ^ "MoD To Invest in UAV Technology". MoD Oracle. NSI (Holdings) Ltd. 7 December 2006. Retrieved 9 December 2006.[permanent dead link]
  8. ^ "Strategic Unmanned Air Vehicles (Experiment) Integrated Project Team". Ministry of Defence. 2009. Retrieved 13 July 2010.[permanent dead link]
  9. ^ Cite error: The named reference Airforce Technology.com was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  10. ^ "Taranis – looking to the future". DefenceIndustryDaily.com. Retrieved 16 July 2014.
  11. ^ http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/defence/11859967/Taranis-stealth-drone-may-see-final-test-flights-later-this-year.html
  12. ^ "Image of Taranis in flight". BBC. 2013. Retrieved 10 November 2014.
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