Named after the Celtic god of thunder, the Taranis concept drone is the pinnacle of UK engineering and aeronautical design, capable of undertaking sustained surveillance, marking targets and gathering intelligence while being operated by one single man from a computer. And now it just got better.
The Taranis recently flew in a fully “stealthy” configuration which made it virtually invisible to radars, compared to its previous flights.
“The first flight of Taranis last year was a significant milestone for UK aviation and this latest development underlines the UK’ s lead in unmanned air systems,” BAE Systems group managing director Nigel Whitehead said. “The engineering data gathered from the latest phase of trials will help us develop the stealth technologies on Taranis further.”
To achieve the “invisibility”, the Taranis ditched all external antennas which, through their shape, would have been disclosed its position to radars. A cutting edge communication system mounted inside the drone has also been used to ensure it was able to remain in touch with its mission commander.
"The success of these test flights is an important milestone for the Taranis project,” Minister for Defence Equipment, Support and Technology Philip Dunne said. “We are gaining vital insights into the potential of unmanned aircraft and this knowledge will shape future capabilities and help reduce the risks faced by military personnel on the frontline. I am determined to continue investing in these world-leading projects to show us the future, today."
The Taranis has been first unveiled in July 2010, costing £185 million () to build and jointly founded by the UK MOD and UK industry. Later that year, BAE System’s military aircraft factory in Warton, Lancashire, served as the drone’s testing grounds. And bellow you can see the aircraft’s first ever flight, when it still had antennas mounted up front.
This technological advance will help the UK MOD and Royal Air Force make decisions on a future mix of manned and unmanned fast jet aircraft operating together to defend the country.
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