Taranis UCAV Completed Third Series of Test Flights

The Taranis UCAV demonstrator completed a third and final flight-test campaign last month. A key objective was to prove a low radar cross-section measurement but—as usual—program officials remain tight-lipped. Meanwhile, the Anglo-French study of a Future Combat Air System (FCAS) that could lead to an operational UCAV is entering its second and final year.
BAE Director of programs and support said that the Taranis program had “met all its test objectives”
ainonline

Taranis UCAV Set for New Flight Tests

A third and possibly final series of flight tests planned for Britain's Taranis unmanned combat air vehicle demonstrator is planned for later this year.
An industry team led by BAE Systems completed two phases of trial flights at Woomera, Australia, between August 2013 and January 2014, and a third series of test flights is now planned for the end of this year.
The British and French governments signed a US $183.4 million FCAS study last year to investigate the feasibility of jointly building an unmanned combat air vehicle (UCAV). Each nation additionally injected a further £40 million into national UCAV technology programs.
A consortium of European nations and companies led by Dassault is conducting flying trials on their own demonstrator UCAV known as Neuron.
defensenews

Australian official confirms Taranis test location

Royal Australian Air has confirmed flight testing of the BAE Systems-led Taranis unmanned combat air system demonstrator took place at the nation’s Woomera test range, removing a classification status previously imposed by the UK Ministry of Defence.
Taranis successfully flight trialled its advanced unmanned combat air vehicle at Woomera in August last year.
A first series of flights was conducted with the stealthy type at Woomera, with a second round having been performed between late the same year and January 2014. The latter involved flying the aircraft in what BAE describes as a “fully stealthy configuration, making it virtually invisible to radar”. Additional trials are now the subject of discussion between the company and the MoD.

flightglobal

Anglo-French UCAS project gets underway with contract

The British and French governments have agreed to a massive contract to develop an Anglo-French unmanned combat air system. The contract, aims for an operational UCAS by the 2030s.
Six European companies will collaborate on the project: BAE, Dassault, Thales France, Selex ES, Rolls-Royce and Safran. The goal is to deliver two different national designs, which will then lead to a joint Anglo-French UCAS capable of strike and ISR missions. The project will begin with a joint feasibility phase that will determine the direction of future work.
c4isrnet

Taranis UCAS may use vectoring thrust

BAE Systems' Taranis unmanned combat air system demonstrator is designed to defeat new counter-stealth radars, and may use thrust vectoring as a primary means of flight control and an innovative high-precision, passive navigation and guidance system, an AW&ST analysis indicates.
Taranis is a blended wing-body shape with no tail surfaces, all-aspect stealth. The demonstrator may be designed so that functional weapon bays and sensors can be installed for a follow-on program.
aviationweek

First images of UK’s classified unmanned stealth “superdrone”

Although the footage was shot in August 2013, today BAE Systems released it for the first time.
“Taranis“, the technological demonstrator of UK’s stealthy unmanned combat vehicle made its first flight on Aug. 10, 2013. Where the maiden sortie took place remains a secret.
The aircraft flew at the old British Nuclear test range at Woomera, Australia.
The only known thing is that the drone flew under the command of a BAE Systems’ test pilotand “made a perfect take off, rotation, ‘climb out’ and landing.”
Since then, a number of other test flights have taken place in much secrecy.
“Taranis” is an Unmanned Combat Air Vehicle (UCAV), described as “the most advanced aircraft ever built by British engineers”.
It’s a semi-autonomous pilotless system that will feature an intercontinental range and will be able to carry a wide variety of weapons, including PGMs (Precision Guided Munitions) and air-to-air missiles.
The Royal Air Force already operates a fleet of Reaper drones from RAF Waddington airbase.
theaviationist

Unmanned Taranis has flown, MoD reveals

Breaking a long silence about the status of its BAE Systems-led Taranis unmanned combat air system technology demonstrator, the UK Ministry of Defence has revealed that initial flight tests have already taken place.
The debut is believed to have occurred at the Woomera test range in South Australia. BAE has used the site during previous unmanned flight test campaigns, including with its Mantis, Herti, Corax and Raven systems. In a 1 August trading statement, the company said the Rolls-Royce Turbomeca Adour-powered Taranis was due to fly “in the second half of the year”.
The MoD’s written submission also includes a detailed split of its currently 577-strong UAV inventory, which is predominantly used to support operations in Afghanistan. The total comprises five General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Reapers, eight leased Elbit Systems Hermes 450s, 222 Lockheed Martin Desert Hawk IIIs, 324 Prox Dynamics Black Hornets and 18 Honeywell T-Hawks.
flightglobal

First flight of Taranis imminent

Testing of the ‘Taranis’, a British unmanned air combat vehicle (UCAV) are believed to be drawing nearer.
Reports in recent weeks state the machine has been delivered to its testing location at Woomera, Australia.
themonitor

British Stealth Drone to Undergo First Test Flight in Australia

BAE Systems‘ Taranis, named after the Celtic god of thunder, is to be flown for the first time in a series of tests over the Australian outback in the spring in an attempt to demonstrate the technology to military chiefs.

defense-studies