Taranis
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Ecce Homo! Loquitur...
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From: Peripatetic
Taranis
A follow on to Corax, or a more refined design for the UCAV portion of FOAS?
BBC: BAE wins £124m aircraft contract
The Ministry of Defence has awarded a £124m ($244m) project to develop an unmanned aircraft to BAE Systems. BAE Systems, the UK's largest defence group, will lead a team including Rolls-Royce, Qinetiq and Smiths.
Called Project Taranis, the plane will be about the size of a Hawk jet and will use a stealth design. It is not yet known how many jobs the project will create nor where it will be based. It will test whether unmanned planes can carry ground attack weapons.
Defence Procurement minister Lord Drayson has hailed Taranis, named after the Celtic god of thunder, as "groundbreaking". "I am delighted to award this contract, which will test cutting edge technology for a new generation of equipment for our front line forces," he said.
Flight tests for the prototype have been provisionally scheduled to take place in 2010.
BAE Systems chief executive Mike Turner said it was an important project "in light of the way in which military operations are changing".......
BBC: BAE wins £124m aircraft contract
The Ministry of Defence has awarded a £124m ($244m) project to develop an unmanned aircraft to BAE Systems. BAE Systems, the UK's largest defence group, will lead a team including Rolls-Royce, Qinetiq and Smiths.
Called Project Taranis, the plane will be about the size of a Hawk jet and will use a stealth design. It is not yet known how many jobs the project will create nor where it will be based. It will test whether unmanned planes can carry ground attack weapons.
Defence Procurement minister Lord Drayson has hailed Taranis, named after the Celtic god of thunder, as "groundbreaking". "I am delighted to award this contract, which will test cutting edge technology for a new generation of equipment for our front line forces," he said.
Flight tests for the prototype have been provisionally scheduled to take place in 2010.
BAE Systems chief executive Mike Turner said it was an important project "in light of the way in which military operations are changing".......
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From: Darling - where are we?
Defence Procurement minister Lord Drayson has hailed Taranis, named after the Celtic god of thunder, as "groundbreaking".
1. Loki - Norse god of mishcief and a trickster. Suitably describes Baron von Wasteospace / Tony.
2. Saga - an obscure goddess. Sounds about right for what's his face, Strangley Brown.
3. Var - Norse goddess of the contract. In honour of the MOD's shambolic contracts dept that will no doubt come up with another bank account busting deal.
Last edited by Melchett01; 7th December 2006 at 21:42.
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From: Quite near 'An aerodrome somewhere in England'
't Bungling Baron Waste o' Space has enough trouble getting 'them boogerrs at 't werrks' to build aeroplanes with pilots. Goodness knows he'll manage with unmanned aircraft (or vee-hickles, if we must use Americanizations wordwise).
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Ecce Homo! Loquitur...
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From: Peripatetic
Well, that answers that question, its FOAS. Most interesting is that it is a UK only programme. Also loved the line that they, "ruled out a future air force consisting solely of pilotless aircraft..... 
The Times: Pilotless drones to replace RAF Tornado bomber fleet
One of the frontline bombers for the RAF is to be replaced by an unmanned aircraft that will be able to seek out and attack a target by itself, the Ministry of Defence announced yesterday.
The first of the pilotless bombers is at least 14 years away. But it is already being envisaged that the successor to the Tornado GR4, the primary ground-attack aircraft, will be an unmanned air vehicle that looks like a miniature version of the American B2 bomber.
Yesterday Lord Drayson, the Defence Procurement Minister, announced a four-year £127 million programme to create a prototype called Taranis. The project is being funded jointly by the Ministry of Defence with BAE Systems, Rolls-Royce, QinetiQ and Smiths Aerospace. Lord Drayson said that Taranis “would revolutionise the way we conduct military operations”. The concept will result in a protoype comparable in size to a Hawk aircraft and will weigh about eight tonnes.
Air Vice-Marshal Chris Moran, Assistant Chief of the Air Staff, said that he could foresee the unmanned combat air vehicle (UCAV) being armed with laser weapons. Air Vice-Marshal Moran and Lord Drayson, speaking to industry representatives in London, ruled out a future air force consisting solely of pilotless aircraft. The plan was to retain a mix of manned and unmanned aircraft, although the ratio of UCAVs and piloted bombers was yet to be decided, they said.
Under present planning, the Eurofighter/Typhoon combat aircraft now coming into service will continue as a frontline fighter and ground-attack aircraft until at least 2040; and the Joint Strike Fighter, which is being developed by the US and Britain for carrier-borne attacks, is intended to remain in service until 2047. “So you won’t see unmanned air vehicles replacing any of the frontline aircraft in the short term,” Air Vice-Marshal Moran said.
He said that an unmanned combat aircraft could be used for tracking and destroying mobile surface-to-air missiles.
Lord Drayson said that Britain had decided to develop the new type of aircraft alone, and would not be involved in any collaborative programme, either with the US or with European partners........
The Times: Pilotless drones to replace RAF Tornado bomber fleet
One of the frontline bombers for the RAF is to be replaced by an unmanned aircraft that will be able to seek out and attack a target by itself, the Ministry of Defence announced yesterday.
The first of the pilotless bombers is at least 14 years away. But it is already being envisaged that the successor to the Tornado GR4, the primary ground-attack aircraft, will be an unmanned air vehicle that looks like a miniature version of the American B2 bomber.
Yesterday Lord Drayson, the Defence Procurement Minister, announced a four-year £127 million programme to create a prototype called Taranis. The project is being funded jointly by the Ministry of Defence with BAE Systems, Rolls-Royce, QinetiQ and Smiths Aerospace. Lord Drayson said that Taranis “would revolutionise the way we conduct military operations”. The concept will result in a protoype comparable in size to a Hawk aircraft and will weigh about eight tonnes.
Air Vice-Marshal Chris Moran, Assistant Chief of the Air Staff, said that he could foresee the unmanned combat air vehicle (UCAV) being armed with laser weapons. Air Vice-Marshal Moran and Lord Drayson, speaking to industry representatives in London, ruled out a future air force consisting solely of pilotless aircraft. The plan was to retain a mix of manned and unmanned aircraft, although the ratio of UCAVs and piloted bombers was yet to be decided, they said.
Under present planning, the Eurofighter/Typhoon combat aircraft now coming into service will continue as a frontline fighter and ground-attack aircraft until at least 2040; and the Joint Strike Fighter, which is being developed by the US and Britain for carrier-borne attacks, is intended to remain in service until 2047. “So you won’t see unmanned air vehicles replacing any of the frontline aircraft in the short term,” Air Vice-Marshal Moran said.
He said that an unmanned combat aircraft could be used for tracking and destroying mobile surface-to-air missiles.
Lord Drayson said that Britain had decided to develop the new type of aircraft alone, and would not be involved in any collaborative programme, either with the US or with European partners........
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From: western europe
Morrigan - The Irish Goddess of Sex 
Sounds like someone '007' would hang around with ....
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From: Forest of Caledon
I like the idea, as shown in the Daily Wail of displaying a breakdown warning triangle at the front.
I should have one of those on the front of my Volvo XC70.
I should have one of those on the front of my Volvo XC70.
Last edited by Low Flier; 12th July 2010 at 18:07.
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From: Quite near 'An aerodrome somewhere in England'
Isn't 't Bungling Baron's new delta-drone basically a proof-of-concept technology demonstrator in its present state?
No order has been placed for 't arranis to be acquired for the RAF, as far as I'm aware.
No order has been placed for 't arranis to be acquired for the RAF, as far as I'm aware.
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From: S of 55N
Taranis
Taranis is, no matter what BAES may claim, an effort to support Defence Industrial Infrastructure - not to develop military capability.
At inception, MoD submitted their requirements for a UCAS to industry along with the available budget. After the laughter subsided, only BAES were left standing, with a proposal to 'explore' what might be achieved in the areas of stealth and UCAS engine technology - very little else.
Compare it to the European (read French) Neuron programme or the US X45 and Taranis is revealed as a bit of a joke.
The contract was let largely on its ability to function as a piece of work to maintain/develop 'cutting edge' UK capability in this area whilst awaiting a real, funded UCAS programme.
I've worked on the edges of this programme and I am not a fan.
Sun.
At inception, MoD submitted their requirements for a UCAS to industry along with the available budget. After the laughter subsided, only BAES were left standing, with a proposal to 'explore' what might be achieved in the areas of stealth and UCAS engine technology - very little else.
Compare it to the European (read French) Neuron programme or the US X45 and Taranis is revealed as a bit of a joke.
The contract was let largely on its ability to function as a piece of work to maintain/develop 'cutting edge' UK capability in this area whilst awaiting a real, funded UCAS programme.
I've worked on the edges of this programme and I am not a fan.
Sun.
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From: UK
I happen to think that this could be a fine moment for BAES, that is, if it flies successfully in the next 6 months and demonstrates it's full potential. If it is another BAES PHOENIX or HERTI, then it will be complete disaster!
I, for one, have my finger's crossed that at long last they will have produced something good!
LJ
PS. Sun Who, I believe it is spelt nEUROn?? Dassault Aviation, the initiator of the European UCAV demonstrator project
I, for one, have my finger's crossed that at long last they will have produced something good!
LJ
PS. Sun Who, I believe it is spelt nEUROn?? Dassault Aviation, the initiator of the European UCAV demonstrator project
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From: Edinburgh
In a vague attempt for accuracy (with the unlikely effect of improving Messybeast PR), it should be pointed out that PHOENIX was a GEC product. Yes folks, there was a competition between Ferranti and GEC, which GEC won.
When BAe bought the defence side of GEC-Marconi (because that moron Simpson wanted to destroy the rest of the firm, and needed to readies to overpay for stuff at the top of the tech bubble) they inherited Phoenix.
Blame the people who gave you Foxhunter and Nimrod AEW...
When BAe bought the defence side of GEC-Marconi (because that moron Simpson wanted to destroy the rest of the firm, and needed to readies to overpay for stuff at the top of the tech bubble) they inherited Phoenix.
Blame the people who gave you Foxhunter and Nimrod AEW...
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From: Falling off the end of the thread
They will have all the gay and lesbian organisations after them as the pink triangle is their symbol to indicate one is gay.................. rather apt actually....
Knowing the UK PLC it's probably powered by a Surplus stock Viper LOL
Taranis
Tactical Airborne Reconnassiance Aircraft Never In Service
Knowing the UK PLC it's probably powered by a Surplus stock Viper LOL
Taranis
Tactical Airborne Reconnassiance Aircraft Never In Service
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From: Just behind the back of beyond....
"Compare it to the European (read French) Neuron programme or the US X45 and Taranis is revealed as a bit of a joke."
How so?
If it is another BAES PHOENIX or HERTI, then it will be complete disaster!
What's wrong with Herti?
How so?
If it is another BAES PHOENIX or HERTI, then it will be complete disaster!
What's wrong with Herti?
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From: Edinburgh
Originally Posted by The B Word
..and Typhoon (EFA 2000 read 2006!)..
Quick, cheap, or good - pick two.
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From: Uranus
JN
I'd say there's nothing wrong with the High Endurance Rapid Technology Insertion (HERTI) "demonstrator". But as a finished product, as most of the articles in the press seem to say, it needs to get a decent "sense and avoid" suite before it can flit about with "Kent & Sussex Police" on the side!
I can't imagine that Joe 'Chav'erage is going to oblige by stealing a car and sticking to the boundaries of the segregated airspace it will need to operate in.
In my opinion, all the bluster about flying UAVs in UK airspace, such as has been said about HERTI, is "pie in the sky". We need to either install a cooperative collision avoidance system or a non-cooperative one for all users. The ASTREA program has been working this for 3-4 years at a cost of about £30M between the partner companies. In hindsight they could have paid for every baloon, glider, microlight and light aircraft to have a lightweight Mode S transponder and still had change (there's roughly 17,000 on the UK register). Then they could have developed automated cooperative aurborne collision system with the next £30M for UAVs such as HERTI. But hey, who am I to judge the overinflated opinion of manufacturers thinking they will fly in un-segregated airspace anytime soon?
Finally, if HERTI was designed for the UK military, then why would they want it over Hermes450/Watchkeeper? Don't forget that the latter is a THALES (UK) project - it might be running a little late but it's nowhere near as late as other UK aircraft programs!
All, IMHO, of course...
I'd say there's nothing wrong with the High Endurance Rapid Technology Insertion (HERTI) "demonstrator". But as a finished product, as most of the articles in the press seem to say, it needs to get a decent "sense and avoid" suite before it can flit about with "Kent & Sussex Police" on the side!
I can't imagine that Joe 'Chav'erage is going to oblige by stealing a car and sticking to the boundaries of the segregated airspace it will need to operate in.
In my opinion, all the bluster about flying UAVs in UK airspace, such as has been said about HERTI, is "pie in the sky". We need to either install a cooperative collision avoidance system or a non-cooperative one for all users. The ASTREA program has been working this for 3-4 years at a cost of about £30M between the partner companies. In hindsight they could have paid for every baloon, glider, microlight and light aircraft to have a lightweight Mode S transponder and still had change (there's roughly 17,000 on the UK register). Then they could have developed automated cooperative aurborne collision system with the next £30M for UAVs such as HERTI. But hey, who am I to judge the overinflated opinion of manufacturers thinking they will fly in un-segregated airspace anytime soon?
Finally, if HERTI was designed for the UK military, then why would they want it over Hermes450/Watchkeeper? Don't forget that the latter is a THALES (UK) project - it might be running a little late but it's nowhere near as late as other UK aircraft programs!
All, IMHO, of course...
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From: Nomadic
The Following (Like my colleague 'B Word') is also IMHO
Where do I start........
Actually - what is right with it...???
As a demonstrator, it might be OK....but don't confuse demonstration with applicability....Who actually wants 'stand-alone' autonomy - without flexibility....
What's wrong with Herti?
Where do I start........
Actually - what is right with it...???
As a demonstrator, it might be OK....but don't confuse demonstration with applicability....Who actually wants 'stand-alone' autonomy - without flexibility....
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From: Just behind the back of beyond....
Ah OK, I get that.
I had thought the same - nothing wrong with the kit, everything wrong with the twits who think it will be sharing airspace with clods like me in my Cessna.
As to designing it for the UK military, they didn't - like all the other BAE Systems UAVs it was designed as a development/demo/demval aircraft - however they've pushed it subsequently.
(Interesting that Simon Bryant had picked up someone else's uniform jacket yesterday. He's the new C-in-C Air Command, apparently, but he'd accidentally turned up with a Navigator brevet on his jacket.........)
I had thought the same - nothing wrong with the kit, everything wrong with the twits who think it will be sharing airspace with clods like me in my Cessna.
As to designing it for the UK military, they didn't - like all the other BAE Systems UAVs it was designed as a development/demo/demval aircraft - however they've pushed it subsequently.
(Interesting that Simon Bryant had picked up someone else's uniform jacket yesterday. He's the new C-in-C Air Command, apparently, but he'd accidentally turned up with a Navigator brevet on his jacket.........)