EADS continues Barracuda test flights in Canada

(WAPA) – EADS Defence & Security (DS) successfully tested the technology demonstrator “Barracuda” at Goose Bay Air Force Base, in Canada. In these trials, advanced technologies and new procedures were checked under realistic conditions.

During this testings, the aircraft UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle) flew completely autonomously along pre-programmed flight profiles, including auto-taxi. Flying some 2 hours and 42 minutes in four take-off and landing cycles this summer, the Barracuda has reached an overall total flight time of 4 hours and 15 minutes over 2009 and 2010.

The Barracuda technology demonstrator was also used for test flights in the “Agile UAV in Network Centric Environment” technology program commissioned by the German BWB (Bundesamt für Wehrtechnik und Beschaffung; federal office of defence technology and procurement). Interoperability of UAVs within Network-Centric (NEC) operations are conducted in line with the latest NATO criteria and in autonomous operation involving interaction with other systems.

The results of this flight test campaign will be used for future UAVs programs such as the Talarion.