Meggitt's Voodoo Lady

The sleek, black swept-back shape of the Voodoo target drone-like angry ebony space wasp-dominates the Meggitt stand and makes other contemporary designs look like winged fossils. The Voodoo is a leap beyond previous Meggitt target drones, such as the tried-and-trusted Banshee that is on show alongside it. With the Voodoo, Meggitt has produced its first high-speed free-flying aerial target, but with none of the complicated and costly booster systems that typify jet- or rocket-powered drones.

Instead, the Voodoo uses a developed version of Triumph's four-cylinder in-line motorcycle engine-produced by Formula 1 engineering firm Ilmor Racing-and resulting in the Voodoo's 150-hp Fury engine. The Voodoo is capable of flying at 300-plus knots with endurance of up to 90 minutes. According to Meggitt sources the company has already signed a deal with a launch customer "in the Asia-Pacific region," for six Voodoo drone systems.

By Robert Hewson