MAKO MoU Is a Major Milestone

PARIS AIR SHOW 2001

	June 17	June 18	June 19	June 20

Lookin' Down or Shoot 'em Down,
Meggitt Sets Cobham UAV Venture

Banshee Now Does Recce Too

Meggitt's Banshee 400 target drone has taken on a new role-as a reconnaissance UAV. Pakistan became the first customer for the new recce version earlier this year, according to Meggitt defense systems managing director Terry Timms.

"We have always had the capability to retrofit the Banshee with a reconnaissance package to give it a limited capability in that role," he says.

More than 3,000 Banshee target drones have now been delivered to 42 countries, the most recent being Egypt, Kuwait, Abu Dhabi and Malaysia. The latter bought 20 target aircraft fitted with Meggitt Doppler radar scoring (miss distance indicator) equipment, a suite of command and support equipment, and spares.-J.M.

A private eye in the sky is more than a twinkle in the eye at Meggitt plc, which has formed a joint venture called Integrated Target Services with Cobham plc's FRA Aviation.

Designed to offer total integrated aerial target solutions to armed forces around the world, the new company can also provide turnkey reconnaissance-by-the-hour with a private fleet of recce UAVs.

"The British Army, for example, doesn't have enough drones, so we've proposed that we provide and fly systems for them and charge for reconnaissance," Meggitt Defence Systems managing director Terry Timms told Show News.

The opportunities will grow in the medium to long term as military customers realize the value of tactical reconnaissance by UAVs, yet balk at the often high cost and complexity of operating them.

"We could put together and operate any system to customer requirements, using any UAV platforms that fit-not just our own," says Timms.

Meggitt offers two recce UAVs -- the Sentry tactical drone (in service with the U.S.) from its S-TEC subsidiary which can carry a 75-pound payload for up to four hours over a range of up to 70 nmi, and its own ASR-4 Spectre, optimized for surveillance and reconnaissance, and which has been modified in France as the key element in the Crecerelle system.

Cobham chief executive Gordon Page gave a similar view of the future at the last Singapore Air Show, when he forecast the use of large unmanned aircraft by his company to patrol long coastlines against drug smugglers within five to ten years. "They will also counter the jammers 'illegals' operate on their boats," he says. "We are looking for UAVs with an endurance of about 12 hours, but currently their lack of reliability precludes their use." So does their cost-although Northrop Grumman's Global Hawk is undergoing trials in Australia, it is considered too expensive for private use.

Integrated Target Services (ITS) was formed in March in response to the UK's Combined Aerial Target Service Initiative to privatize the operation of aerial targets in the UK armed forces. Both Meggitt and Cobham already hold contracts with the UK MoD and governments around the world for the provision, operation and support of a wide variety of aerial target systems.

"ITS must now be the No. 1 in the UK and the world for free-flying and towed targets and target training aids," Timms says.

By John Morris

Voodoo is Capable-and Efficient

The prototype-and as yet unflown-Voodoo target drone is being shown for the first time here at Paris by Meggitt plc. The drone marks the company's entry into the market for high-speed free-flying aerial targets, even though the propeller-driven Voodoo is anything but a Sonic Cruiser.

"Current high-speed, jet- or rocket-powered subsonic drones are so often used in the 300- to 350-knot range anyway; they often have complicated launch procedures-some involving JATO boosters; there are environmental issues, they are expensive, and their endurance is often only 20 to 30 minutes," Meggitt Defence Systems managing director Terry Timms told Show News.

So why not replace them with fast, environmentally friendly, propeller-driven drones capable of 300-plus knots and an endurance of up to 90 minutes? Throw in a price target of one third to one half of the traditional systems-and you have the concept for Voodoo.

"The key was the powerplant," says Timms. Meggitt contracted Ilmor Racing to develop the four-cylinder in-line Triumph motorcycle engine into the 150-hp Fury, tailored for Voodoo's operating requirements.

The first two customers have said they'll sign contracts when Voodoo has proved itself beyond 300 knots, Timms says.
First flight is scheduled for the first week of July in Finland, which has offered launch facilities and a test site. The 3.6-meter long, 2.5-meter wingspan Voodoo will be fully marinized, is easily transportable, and can be launched off most pneumatic launchers, including those already in use for the Banshee. -- J.M.


Advanced Search \| Tips