EADS Details Secretive Barracuda UAV Program, page 1
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Topic started on 12-5-2006 @ 05:41 AM by Zion Mainframe
Finally! Back in February some pictures leaked out of the Barracuda doing ground tests. Yesterday, EADS released more details about this UAV, which is currenty Europe's largest:




'Barracuda' UAV demonstrator opens up new technology perspectives for EADS

The EADS Military Air Systems Business Unit has for the first time flight tested an innovative aircraft for the development of future operational Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs).

During the recent 20-minute flight, the jet-powered air vehicle, which is known to initiated experts by its project name 'Barracuda', followed a pre-programmed course completely autonomously, merely being kept under observation from a ground station. This flight marked the successful completion of the first test phase, which also comprised an extensive series of ground tests. Following presentation at the International Aerospace Exhibition ILA in Berlin, the further development and testing will be continued.

"With the first flight of our technology demonstrator for unmanned high performance military systems we have thrust the door wide open to one of the most promising future global markets in our branch," said Dr. Stefan Zoller, the EADS Executive Committee member responsible for the company's defence and security business. "We now have an additional, more powerful test platform at our disposal for the further development of our core technological competencies in this extremely important field," Zoller continued.


Please visit the link provided for the complete story.


Very interesting program! The Barracuda will be put on display next week at the Berlin Air Show, so more high resolution pics will then become available.

Additional links:

- Barracuda UAV factsheet
- Barracuda's technical specifications




reply posted on 15-5-2006 @ 11:52 AM by planeman
There's a video of the Barracuda flying here: www.eads.com...






reply posted on 15-5-2006 @ 04:22 PM by planeman
Originally posted by ShatteredSkies
That UAV can't be true stealth.

It just doesn't resemble true stealth aircraft, sure it has the saw tooth configuration, but there's more to stealth than that.

The intakes looks like they made some attempt at stealth as well. What kind of gives it away is the fact that it is completely round on the bottom, and the frontal RCS has to be high. Also, the wings and empennage are probably bolted down from the inside and not blended with the structure, so those sharp corners will give away stealth too.

Just my input on the stealth, but over all it looks like a nice advanced technology demonstrator, but what's wrong with the Predator? Can't we just put that on loan?

It's ok if we can't, I'm just sayin'.

Shattered OUT...
Shattered, this is in a completely different class to the predator in every respect. This is more analogous with the X-45/47 program.


Re stealth, I don't agree. I do not understant certain aspects of this airframe shape but we know that the aircraft uses extensive use of composites, most of which are radar-transparent. Therefore the outer shape of the aircraft may not be what the radar "sees". The Intake is above the line of the engine meaning that it doesn't reflect off the turbine ("line of sight stealth", as on F-22). and the intake is on the top of the aircraft so it is masked from ground radars.

[edit on 15-5-2006 by planeman]


reply posted on 15-5-2006 @ 06:43 PM by XB70
Originally posted by planeman
Originally posted by ShatteredSkies
That UAV can't be true stealth.

It just doesn't resemble true stealth aircraft, sure it has the saw tooth configuration, but there's more to stealth than that.

The intakes looks like they made some attempt at stealth as well. What kind of gives it away is the fact that it is completely round on the bottom, and the frontal RCS has to be high. Also, the wings and empennage are probably bolted down from the inside and not blended with the structure, so those sharp corners will give away stealth too.

Just my input on the stealth, but over all it looks like a nice advanced technology demonstrator, but what's wrong with the Predator? Can't we just put that on loan?

It's ok if we can't, I'm just sayin'.

Shattered OUT...
Shattered, this is in a completely different class to the predator in every respect. This is more analogous with the X-45/47 program.


Re stealth, I don't agree. I do not understant certain aspects of this airframe shape but we know that the aircraft uses extensive use of composites, most of which are radar-transparent. Therefore the outer shape of the aircraft may not be what the radar "sees". The Intake is above the line of the engine meaning that it doesn't reflect off the turbine ("line of sight stealth", as on F-22). and the intake is on the top of the aircraft so it is masked from ground radars.

[edit on 15-5-2006 by planeman]
The intake doesn't look like it's on a different level than the engine according to that transparent view image, or the front orthographic image.

And yeah, there's a corner where the wings and fuselage meet.
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