EADS DS Highlights Advanced UAV in Full Scale

(June 15, 2009) -- At the Paris Air Show 2009, EADS Defence & Security (DS) presents the mock-up of the the latest unmanned aerial system: the Advanced UAV, the proposed Franco-German-Spanish UAV programme for the development and production of a fully autonomous system for Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition and Reconnaissance (ISTAR) missions. On the occasion of the debut of the full-scale model, DS announced the brand name "Talarion", derived from the winged sandals of Hermes in the Greek mythology, enabling him to fly over great distances and faster than anyone.

Talarion, with it's 27,90 m wing span, is a joint endeavour of DS in France, Germany and Spain. The modular UAV is based upon the results of a comprehensive risk reduction study, which was concluded in May this year. Given a governmental go-ahead for development in 2009, the maiden flight of "Talarion" would be in 2013, and with first series deliveries in 2015. The industry proposal to the three partner nations contains six Talarion systems for France and Germany each, and three for Spain, respectively. One system consists of three Talarion units plus ground segment. In addition to the three partner nations, there is also an growing interest on the advanced UAV programme Talarion in the international markets.

Talarion is the European programme for advanced, twin-jet ISTAR solutions with a unique modular sensor / payload philosophy, providing customers unlimited control of their missions and the data obtained therein.

Source : European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company EADS N.V. (Paris: EAD.PA)