Barracuda test

EADS Defence & Security has successfully tested its jet-powered Barracuda Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) during a series of four flights at Goose Bay air force base in Canada.

According to EADS, the test campaign marks an important milestone in proving the technologies and procedures to be used in future mission-ready UAV systems in realistic conditions.

During the test campaign the UAV flew autonomously along pre-programmed flight profiles and was monitored from a ground station.

Barracuda performed its maiden flight in April 2006. Since then the software and systems have been continuously developed to form an integrated unit.

The flexibility of the software and the modular capabilities have also been enhanced, making the system simpler to adapt to a range of UAV missions that will then be verified and validated using Barracuda.