유럽 6개국 공동개발 무인전투기 (UCAV) nEUROn 소식...

 

스웨덴 Saab 社와 프랑스 Dassault 社를 포함한 유럽 6개국이 공동으로 참여 개발 중인 무인전투기 (UCAV,

Unmanned Combat Air Vehicle), nEUROn (NEURON) 관련 소식을 소개 합니다.

 

지난 1월 25일 스웨덴 남부 Linköping 에 위치한 Saab 본사에서 nEUROn 의 기술실증기 (Demonstrator) 의

중앙동체 출고식이 거행되었다는 defence.professionals 의 기사와 함께 Saab 社가 제공하는 관련 사진들을

소개 합니다.

 

이번 중앙동체를 포함하여 실증기에 대한 최종 조립이 프랑스 남부 Istres 에 위치한 Dassault Aviation 에서

완료되면, 올 년말까지 지상시험을 실시하고, 2012년 여름경에는 초도비행을 실시할 계획이라 합니다.

 

nEUROn 개발 사업에 참여한 유럽 6개국의 기업들과 제작 참여 분야는 아래 기사를 참조하면 됩니다. 

 

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Dassault Aviation takes delivery of first nEUROn fuselage sections

07:23 GMT, January 26, 2011 / defpro.com

 

After some six years of planning, designing and testing, the ambitious programme to develop a European stealth unmanned combat air vehicle (UCAV) is taking shape. This week, Saab officially delivered the front and central fuselage sections for the nEUROn technology demonstrator to the project’s prime contractor, Dassault Aviation.

 

The French company had received the contract with the country’s defence procurement agency, DGA, in February 2006 to develop and manufacture a UCAV demonstrator. Since the official launch of the programme, six European partners have joined forces on the political, as well as industrial side: France (Dassault Aviation, Thales), Sweden (Saab), Italy (Finmeccanica), Spain (EADS CASA), Greece (Hellenic Aerospace Industry) and Switzerland (RUAG); the DGA acts as the program executive agency on behalf of the six nations.

 

After having completed design reviews of all major nEUROn systems in 2008 and undergoing wind tunnel tests by RUAG, the developers determined the final shape of the future aircraft. Flight tests with the similar-shaped Dassault AVE-C unmanned aircraft supported the development of the nEUROn’s planned remote controlled and autonomous capabilities.

 

Based on these findings, the project could further proceed to the production of key structural elements by Hellenic Aerospace Industry (HAI), which is responsible for the nozzle and aft fuselage section, as well as by Saab, for the front and central fuselage sections. Further, in 2009 Dassault reported that the experimental development center at Dassault Aviation’s Argenteuil plant produced an inlet demonstrator, while the company’s Biarritz plant created a complete leading edge section for testing purposes. In particular, the stealth requirements, demanding very tight tolerances in all surface elements, represent a tremendous technological challenge.

 

 

FIRST STEPS IN CREATING THE nEUROn

 

With the delivery of the large fuselage sections, Saab accomplished an important milestone within the achievement of a UCAV demonstrator, scheduled to perform its maiden flight in mid-2012. Ground tests, as well as the first engine run-up, are planned to be carried out in late 2011 at the Istres-Le Tubé Air Base. Being a Main National Subcontractor (MNSC) within the European aerospace project, Saab claims 25 per cent of the development activities. According to the Scandinavian company, it mainly focuses on areas such as aerostructures, avionics, airworthiness, fuel systems, autonomy, stealth-related elements and mission software for the nEUROn.

 

While the rear fuselage section was delivered by HAI in mid-January, the fuselage sections manufactured by Saab will soon be transported from Saab’s Linköping plant to Istres. At the Dassault plant in southern France, all sections of the nEUROn demonstrator will be integrated into the overall system and allow the programme to receive an even more distinct shape during the upcoming months.

 

According to Dassault Aviation, the schedule for the remaining key elements is as follows:

• the ordnance release pantograph by RUAG will arrive end of February;

• the two half wings by EADS-CASA will arrive beginning of March;

• the two weapon bay doors by Alenia will arrive end of March;

• the three landing gear doors by Saab will arrive in April;

• several stealth-related parts by Dassault Aviation will be delivered in January and March.

 

 

A PAN-EUROPEAN PROJECT

 

The basic dimensions of the aircraft are already known, and corresponding mock-ups have been on display at various European trade fairs and air shows. The nEUROn will be 10 metres long with a 12-metres wingspan and a weight of approximately seven tons. Due to its aerodynamic and stealth requirements, the future UCAV shows many parallels to US concepts, such as the Phantom Ray (Boeing; based on X-45C) and the X-47B (Northrop Grumman), being designed as a flying wing with its intake on top of the fuselage and having a flat belly.

 

The system is intended to provide unmanned capabilities that meet the scope of manned aircraft, in terms of range, payloads and operability, to some extent. One of its most significant characteristics will be the ability to carry precision air-to-ground munitions in its dual internal weapons bay, allowing the UCAV to stealthily penetrate enemy air defences and strike targets well behind enemy lines.

 

In addition to the technological challenge of creating a state-of-the-art UCAV system, the DGA and Dassault Aviation claim that the nEUROn project will help to further consolidate the pan-European efforts within the military aviation industry. Indeed, it may be an important move to sustain a competitive European aerospace industry, which suffers from shrinking defence budgets and the lack of perspectives with regard to long-term next-generation fighter programmes on the European continent.

 

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By Nicolas von Kospoth, Managing Editor

 

 

  ⓒ Saab AB

 

  ⓒ Saab AB

 

  ⓒ Saab AB

 

  ⓒ Saab AB

 

  ⓒ Saab AB