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UCAV Development: More Programmes than Ever |
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(Source: Frost & Sullivan; issued Oct. 19, 2004)
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As is the case with Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), the Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicle (UCAV) progress gap between the U.S. and Europe is widening, with time running out for a cost-effective European solution.
In June 2004, the BAE Systems Chief Executive, Mike Turner, called upon European industry to co-operate more, after expressing concern that Europe has fallen behind the United States in UCAV development.
This week, the U.S. UCAV leader, the Boeing Company, received an award allowing it to continue the development of the X-45C segment of its J-UCAS program for the next five years, with the first flight of the X-45 scheduled for early 2007. Lockheed Martin’s team with key partner Bell Helicopters, are continuing the Unmanned Combat Armed Rotorcraft (UCAR) program, designed to conduct reconnaissance and combat missions.
As well as UCAV programs, U.S. modifications to existing long-endurance UAVs, such as arming the General Atomics "Predator" and the Israel Aircraft Industries/Northrop Grumman "Hunter" UAVs with air-to-ground missiles, are becoming more frequent.
According to the U.S. Department of Defence (DoD), over $4 billion has been allocated over the next five years to UCAV and UCAR development. With the cancellation of the Comanche helicopter project and the probable scaling back of Joint Strike Fighter numbers, it is likely that UCAV investment will increase.
European UCAV programs are being seen in the form of the EUR 300 million Neuron, the French-led European UCAV consortium, with major contributions likely to come from Sweden’s Saab Aerospace, Greece’s Hellenic Aerospace Industry and other industry from Germany and Italy.
Another European initiative, the Italian "Sky-X UCAV" program, utilizes an armed "Sky-X" UAV platform, with Alenia Aeronautica having invested EUR 35 million in the program to date and the first flight scheduled for mid 2005.
According to Frost & Sullivan analysis, unless Europe wakes up and invests in more co-operation, European manufacturers will find themselves playing "catch-up" and not being able to win valuable business opportunities. European nations will find themselves paying more and having to compromise on foreign systems that were not developed suit to their needs.
Europe has invested just 10% of that which the U.S. has invested in UCAV/UCAR development over the next five years. Combining this lack of investment with a lack of UAV-critical technology and operational experience means Europe is unlikely to close the gap between itself and the U.S.
Europe needs to clearly define its future needs. Does it intend to play a peacekeeping role? Or wish to have a more offensive capability? Perhaps it wishes to lead some niche UAV markets? Or maybe it doesn’t regard these issues as serious and doesn’t mind playing "catch-up"?
-ends-
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