The UAV system Barracuda is a technology demonstrator used in the development of tomorrow’s agile, autonomous, network-centric UAV systems.
In July 2009, Military Air Systems successfully resumed flight tests at the Canadian Air Force base in Goose Bay, using an improved replica of the unmanned aircraft.
A test bed for the technologies and procedures to be used in mature aerial systems of the future is thus airborne once again under the familiar project name.
The results of simulations carried out during the Agile UAV programme are now being verified by the technology demonstrator in real flights. The maiden flight of a demonstrator bearing this name took place in April 2006.
Consisting entirely of carbon fibre composite materials, the jet-propelled test bed (which is over 8 metres long and has a wingspan of more than 7 metres and a maximum takeoff weight of over 3 metric tons) flies completely autonomously and is monitored from the ground station with respect to flight safety only. The test bed is designed as an ‘electric aircraft’ (with the exception of the landing gear, it uses only electric actuators instead of hydraulic components); it is equipped with a Triplex flight control system and has an open, modular avionics structure that permits the easy installation and integration of numerous sensors. These include electro-optical and infrared sensors, laser target designators, detectors for locating the source of radio-magnetic waves (Emitter Locator System – ELS), and a state-of-the-art Synthetic Aperture Radar – SAR.
