Posted on 02/06/2014 12:52:33 PM PST by sukhoi-30mki
Although the footage was shot in August 2013, today BAE Systems released it for the first time.
“Taranis“, the technological demonstrator of UK’s stealthy unmanned combat vehicle made its first flight on Aug. 10, 2013. Where the maiden sortie took place remains a secret.
The aircraft flew at the old British Nuclear test range at Woomera, Australia.
The only thing we know is that the “superdrone” flew under the command of BAE Systems’ test pilot Bob Fraser and “made a perfect take off, rotation, ‘climb out’ and landing.”
Since then, a number of other test flights have taken place in much secrecy.
“Taranis” is an Unmanned Combat Air Vehicle (UCAV), described as “the most advanced aircraft ever built by British engineers”.
It’s a semi-autonomous pilotless system that will feature an intercontinental range and will be able to carry a wide variety of weapons, including PGMs (Precision Guided Munitions) and air-to-air missiles.
The Royal Air Force already operates a fleet of Reaper drones from RAF Waddington airbase.
The appearance is similar to that of an X-47.
Bee Chen
A flying Calzone! Sounds like a name for a circus act!................
Lol, Giovanni Belzoni,
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giovanni_Battista_Belzoni
But it won`t be available during teatime.
To call it “classified” is stretching things. We’ve know its name, its appearance, and, its general capabilities for years now.
Another ugly British airplane flies...
This is truly world-beating, cutting edge all-british tech. No doubt it will therefore be cancelled at an advanced stage of development and off-the-shelf American kit purchased to “save money” (after billions of public cash has already been thrown at it)....
The RAAF Woomera Test Range, in other words. RAAF standing for Royal Australian Air Force.
Sorry - pet hate to see such things described as British - as if we had nothing to do with it. It was called the Anglo-Australian Joint Project for a reason.
Did the Aussies test nukes there as well then?
The tests were joint British and Australian tests on a facility that both nations paid for. At the time they were being done, the plan was for us to develop our own nuclear arsenal as well. It didn’t happen in the end, but it was a joint project (some British officials didn’t like that, but as they needed the facility, they agreed).
I always thought it would be the Cannucks who would have been the primary partners in developing a bomb with the Union Jack on it. They were heavily involved in the Manhattan project with us and the Americans...
Canada did partner more with the US, and actually maintained a small nuclear arsenal (which they don’t like to talk about now) between the 1960s and 1980s with US support (and a degree of US control).
I wonder if it leaks oil.
It has Lucas electrics so definitely the navigation lights go dark at night.
I’d rather have a Spitfire Mk.9
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