George Muellner, President Advanced Systems at Boeing Integrated Defence Systems gave an over view of the wide variety of UAS programmes the company is involved in at Paris Air Show. Alongside the A160 Hummingbird the company is also working closely with Insitu on ScanEagle, bidding in to the US Navy’s UCAS-D demonstrator programme and undertaking a number of advanced concept studies. By Darren Lake, Paris
Alenia Aeronautica, Dassault Aviation, and Saab announced at the Paris Air Show that they have joined forces to spearhead the development of a European MALE UAV capable of taking on other offerings in the growing European market for MALE intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance systems. By Darren Lake, Paris
After increasing media attention IAI Malat has finally taken the wraps of its newest UAV and the largest yet to be built in Israel, the Heron TP (Heron 2). The choice of Paris Air Show as the first public showing of the UAV confirms the maturing nature of the UAV market in Europe and IAI says it was difficult to secure the permissions to exhibit the aircraft. By Darren Lake, Paris
Elbit Systems has used the Paris Air Show as the venue to reveal more about its Hermes 900, a development of its original Hermes 450 design. The new larger UAV, a mock-up of which is being displayed at the show, is being touted as a tactical MALE system. By Darren Lake, Paris
The companies lining up for the US Navy’s Broad Area Maritime Surveillance (BAMS) project have been using the Paris air Show as one of the last chances to brief on their solution before the expected down select in autumn. The surprise, however, was that Boeing is making a late entry into the competition with a solution based on an adapted, optionally manned Gulfstream G550 business jet. By Darren Lake, Paris
Dr David Vos, founder and CEO of Athena controls, says that the company is starting to get interest from the manned general aviation community for the control systems that it has developed for UAVs. He said that the miniaturised systems make them ideal for application in to light aircraft. By Darren Lake, Paris
The latest version of the A160 Hummingbird Rotary UAV fitted with a turbine engine has completed its first flight. The A160T with its heavy fuel Pratt & Whitney will give the helicopter increased range, endurance and payload and is a requirement being asked of developers Boeing buy its customer US Special Operations Command. By Darren Lake, Paris
According to BAE Systems officials the UK’s £124 million Taranis UAV technology demonstrator programme has reached its first major milestone with the design of its autonomous systems finalised. Ground testing of the UAV is scheduled for 2009 and the first flight trails are expected in 2010. By Darren Lake, Paris
Further details are emerging of the UK Ministry of Defence’s (MoD’s) Urgent Operational Requirement (UOR) £55 million purchase of tactical UAV services from Thales UK. Under the UOR the UK will use Hermes 450 UAVs as an interim capability until Watchkeeper comes on stream in 2010. By Darren Lake, Paris
