CL-289 Replacement Would Feature New Operational Modes
EADS is taking the first step towards the eventual replacement
of the long-serving CL-289 reconnaissance drone, showing off a
demonstrator that is serving as a stepping-stone to a future operational
system.
The demonstrator, called Carapas, is being built in cooperation
between EADS and Italy's Galileo Avionica.
Like its predecessor, Carapas is supposed to serve as a low-flying,
penetrating, high-speed reconnaissance device. But the new UAV
will be more flexible, also having a slow-operating mode. It would
allow the aircraft to dash to a target at high speed, fly slowly
and loiter in a target area to collect images, and dash back to
the landing area. In a high-threat environment it could also continue
as a purely high-speed vehicle.
Unlike the CL-289, the Carapas would feature wings, but it would
also be catapult-launched. It is essentially a derivative of the
Italian Mirach 100 target drone, long in service also as a reconnaissance
UAV with the Italian army. Carapas is expected to fly in a little
over a year.
The electro-optical sensor would provide about one centimeter
resolution. In addition, the UAV would be fitted with an electronic
support measures system. The concept would allow the UAV to detect
an electronic emission and then be diverted to fly near the target
area to identify it with the visual sensor.
The operational version being eyed for French and Italian applications
is called the Surveyor-600 and may feature active radar cross-section
improvement technology. EADS expects the vehicle to be about 160
inches long, with a 90-inch wingspan. Payload capacity would be
165 lb for the 990 lb maximum take-off weight drone. Endurance
in cruise speed would range from 1-3.5 hours.
