Taranis test flights to inform design of future combat aircraft

Taranis, an unmanned aerial combat vehicle designed and built by a team comprising BAE Systems, Qinetiq, GE Aviation, Rolls-Royce, and DE&S, was flown for the first time at an undisclosed test range on Saturday 10th August 2013.

Made possible with joint funding worth £185m from industry and the Ministry of Defence, the stealthy unmanned combat system has been designed to demonstrate the feasibility of a long-range unmanned aircraft capable of precision strikes, plus sustained surveillance, marking targets, and intelligence gathering.

‘This is the most advanced air system yet conceived, designed and built in the UK and its vitally important for the future of both UK air defence and the UK defence industry,’ said Philip Dunne, minister for Defence Equipment, Support and Technology.

Piloted by BAE Systems’ test pilot Bob Fraser, Taranis is said to have made a perfect take-off, rotation, ‘climb-out’ and landing on its first 15 minute flight. According to BAE Systems, a number of flights took place in 2013, of up to one hour in duration and at a variety of altitudes and speeds.