Neuron UCAV tech. demonstrator first flight

[Audio]

Istres, France, 1st December 2012 – Today, the nEUROn, Europe’s unmanned combat air vehicle (UCAV) stealth technology demonstrator, successfully completed its maiden flight from the Dassault Aviation company’s flight test base in Istres, in collaboration with the flight test personnel of the French defense procurement agency (DGA).

The nEUROn was launched in 2005 by the customer, DGA, and involves France, Italy, Sweden, Spain, Greece and Switzerland. It defines a future for the aeronautic excellence of Europe.

With Dassault Aviation as prime contractor, the program was designed to pool the skills and know-how of Alenia Aermacchi (Italy), Saab (Sweden), EADS-CASA (Spain), HAI (Greece), RUAG (Switzerland) and Thales (France).

With a length of 10 meters, a wingspan of 12.5 meters and an empty weight of 5 tons, the aircraft is powered by a Rolls-Royce Turbomeca “Adour” engine.

The nEUROn will continue to undergo testing in France until 2014, at which time it will be sent to Vidsel in Sweden for a series of operational trials. It will then go to the Perdadesfogu range (Italy) for further tests, in particular firing and stealth measurements.

 

[Cherokee]

Good News , Also Dassault and France is getting closer to India . Happy

 

[lander]

Too bad it's only a technology demonstrator. Would have loved to see it in Swedish/French service and operated jointly with Rafales and Gripens!

Hopefully, Saab would be able to integrate some of the new technology harvested from this project into the making of the new Gripen 39E/F.

 

[Audio]

Too bad it's only a technology demonstrator. Would have loved to see it in Swedish/French service and operated jointly with Rafales and Gripens!

Hopefully, Saab would be able to integrate some of the new technology harvested from this project into the making of the new Gripen 39E/F.

They are seeking financing for making a initial operational capability prototype which most likely they will get. Also testing technologies for a sixth gen. fighter manned or unmanned. In service date around 2030.

 

[lander]

They are seeking financing for making a initial operational capability prototype which most likely they will get. Also testing technologies for a sixth gen. fighter manned or unmanned. In service date around 2030.

Well not with the Neuron. Great Britain and France have teemed up to make a further development of a UCAV which will get fielded in the future. The Neuron won't live through it. As said, the Neuron was only a demonstrator to share technology and to jointly test new features. There are no plans for any 6th generation fighter jet in Europe as of today. Atleast not anything recognized by any government or manufacturer. And I have a hard time seeing how the 6th generation criteria could be discussed now seeing as the latest of technologies is just on its way to be implemented with the 5th generation fighters which would be fielded around 2020-2030 (PAK-FA, F-35, ATD-X, J-20, J-31, K-FX etc). People are too obsessed by numbers in which the fighter aircraft evolve around.

 

[Audio]

Well not with the Neuron. Great Britain and France have teemed up to make a further development of a UCAV which will get fielded in the future. The Neuron won't live through it. As said, the Neuron was only a demonstrator to share technology and to jointly test new features. There are no plans for any 6th generation fighter jet in Europe as of today. Atleast not anything recognized by any government or manufacturer. And I have a hard time seeing how the 6th generation criteria could be discussed now seeing as the latest of technologies is just on its way to be implemented with the 5th generation fighters which would be fielded around 2020-2030 (PAK-FA, F-35, ATD-X, J-20, J-31, K-FX etc). People are too obsessed by numbers in which the fighter aircraft evolve around.

it is a tech demonstrator to develop and fine tune technologies which will be used in ther next generation fighter, because none of the European manufacturers will make a 5th gen. fighter, they made this to develop and test technologies. ie. to not fall behind.

official goals of the programme:

1.) To maintain and develop the skills of the participating European aerospace companies' design offices, which will not see any other new fighter programs before 2030 now that the Rafale, Eurofighter and Gripen projects are all complete or well underway.
2.) To investigate and validate technologies that will be needed by 2015 to design next-generation combat aircraft.
3.) To validate an innovative cooperation process by establishing a European industry team responsible for developing next-generation combat aircraft.

The mentioned British-French cooperation will draw from the experience gathered here and from the Bae Taranis drone, which is supposed to be flying in early 2013.

 

[Audio]

is it designed by lockheed?

i think your incubation time in the latrine isn't quite over yet....

 

[anon45]

I recall reading somewhere (I think f-16.net) that the Neuron would not have autonomous capability but instead be remotely controlled (from either ground or air). Anyone able to authoritatively confirm or deny this? .

 

[Audio]

I recall reading somewhere (I think f-16.net) that the Neuron would not have autonomous capability but instead be remotely controlled (from either ground or air). Anyone able to authoritatively confirm or deny this? .

Well, im no authority, public domain info offers:

- Contrary to most other UAVs now in service, Neuron is not remotely-piloted, but flies a pre-programmed mission with no direct input from the ground. Ground operators' role is limited to oversight, and to authorizing each successive mission phase, although they can also intervene if needed. Flying autonomously is considered to be a useful feature by the Neuron partners because it allows the UCAV to complete its mission even if its command datalink is cut or jammed, whereas RPVs are programmed to fly into the ground if this link is cut.

At the bottom Neuron First Flight Is Nudge to European Action

It's also supposed to be controlled from fighter planes in swarms like i guess 2-3+(if they make it production), and probably the pilot cant "drive" his own and a couple more, so some degree of autonomy is probably there.

 

[Audio]

The Neuron UCAV demonstrator European, made ​​his second flight this morning at Istres (Bouches-du-Rhône), based testing Dassault Aviation. The flight lasted only eleven minutes after the first 25-minute flight on December 1.

Le mamouth: Deuxième vol du Neuron Link in french

Also related:

Italy's Alenia keen for involvement in Franco-British UCAV programme

The above mentioned programme would be the production follow up of the Neuron.