"Europe’s first stealth killer drone “nEUROn” makes maiden flight"

originally posted by: anzha
a reply to: Blackfinger

They are in a holding pattern right now.

Paris and London decided to go it together on a stealthy UCAV, but when Taranis' latest testing was done, the pols seemed to have stalled. They agreed to make a decision on the joint project, but its not officially happened yet.

I do bet BAe and Dassault are chewing on what to do, but have yet to lay up the composites for it. Tooling being as expensive as it is.

Is there a formal requirement for this platform? Like I said, I do not trust the French manufacturers, why would we hook up with them, give them our knowledge on Stealth and composites only for them to decide when a formal requirement is released that they want the majority of workshare for a disproportionate input of capability and when it is a French requirement to be National and drop the UK?

Would the requirement have to be a joint French and UK requirement? Wonder if they are looking at the Maritime performance being as the French have Cats and Traps and we don't?

a reply to: Forensick

Interestingly Germany is reviving the Euro Hawk.

a reply to: Zaphod58

As a Swede, why do we have it? Just curious?

a reply to: Kantjil

Building a demonstrator like this lets you learn to work with advanced materials and technology.

a reply to: Zaphod58

I thought we werent gonna be part of anything =(

Iceland looks very close maybe i should take a vacation

a reply to: Kantjil

Sweden offers other nations advanced fighter aircraft. By being part of this they get the benefit of learning to work with advanced materials that can then be moved to their own programs, increasing interest and possibly sales.

a reply to: Zaphod58


Oooh we are selling, ok, nvm.. Thanks for the info..
All technology is welcome..

originally posted by: Zaphod58
a reply to: Forensick

Interestingly Germany is reviving the Euro Hawk.

Euro Hawk sounds like a terrible German techno group. . . Like Scooter...



*shivers*

a reply to: Forensick

IIRC, its not maritime. This is more along the lines of a land based UCLASS.

The requirement is funding. Neither the Brits or the French can afford to do this on their own any more. Since there is a desire to have a tech base outside of US control, that's why they are teaming Euro style.

They are in a holding pattern right now. Paris and London decided to go it together on a stealthy UCAV, but when Taranis' latest testing was done, the pols seemed to have stalled. They agreed to make a decision on the joint project, but its not officially happened yet. I do bet BAe and Dassault are chewing on what to do, but have yet to lay up the composites for it. Tooling being as expensive as it is.

Seriously?
From what Ive read both have done exceedingly well as demonstrators..Its more likely political infighting or they are unable to decide on a plan of action to move forward..Thing is do they have customers lined up and waiting?

a reply to: Blackfinger

They were supposed to have done well. To be honest, they need the next step demonstrator before they ought to commit to a full blown project, IMO. They did a bunch of LO and basic UAV demos. Howeve, nothing has been done with weapons integration and whatnot. They probably ought to do that next (take five, six years to do so) and then go to a full UCAV.

They are in a political holding pattern. Who gets to do what? Who keeps what tech? How many will be made? Do they want to include the Italians? Germans? Spanish?

Plus the EU related issues: Brexit? Refugees? Fighting in Syria? etc.

Politics trump all.

And it seems Paris and London have made up their mind to spend 1.5 billion Euros building a stealthy UCAV.

www.defensenews.com...

a reply to: anzha
Waste of money there is a need for a successor of the Rafale and Typhoon who are 4th gen fighter not a stealth R/C plane abble to launch two bombs on a target and just it . When we will open our eyes here in Europe we will have two fighter generation too late

a reply to: darksidius

Its not a waste of money, IMO.

However.

They need to start work on a replacement for the Tornado first and then the other two. However, given the stickiness of EU industrial politics...

Let the Germans take the lead for the Tornado.

Let the Brits take the UCAV. They'll have bits from we yanqi they can tap into.

Let the French take the lead on the Rafale/Typhoon.

Significant work shares all around.

Make sure to include the Italians. They do great contract work.

And, please, make sure you buy enough to actually get economies of scale and get all the EU nations to use the equipment. You still won't be as large as the US or Russian forces then, but you'd at least be common for logistics and large enough to be deter.

Ok, I'll stop dreaming here.

BAE Systems, Finmeccanica Airborne and Space Systems Division, and Rolls-Royce work on the British side, with Dassault Aviation, Safran’s Snecma, and Thales on the French side.

Definitely some heavy hitters in the tech industry.BAE design,Finmeccania materials,Rolls Royce Powerplant,Dassault Structure,Snecma and Thales ideal for sensors and control.?

a reply to: Blackfinger

First flight in 2025. Capability in 2030+.

defense-update.com...