Barracuda as company owned technology UAS system serviced as test-bed for future European UAS developments – Talarion, Future Unmanned Combat Systems (FUAS/UCAS).
Major contribution of MAS to the Agile UAV programme is the Barracuda demonstrator UAV system. In July 2009, MAS successfully resumed flight tests at the Canadian Air Force base in Goose Bay, using an improved rebuild of the unmanned aircraft – which, in September 2006, ditched into the sea, upon approach for landing at San Javier Air Force Base (Murcia / Spain) after a successful full-automatic test-flightt. The maiden flight of a demonstrator bearing this name took place in April 2006.
Barracuda is 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.
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 automatic 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.
