The Barracuda demonstrator at the ILA 2006.

Barracuda is the project name^[1] for a European unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) currently under development by EADS, intended for the role of reconnaissance. The aircraft is a joint venture between Germany and Spain.The prototype crashed during a test flight in the water just out of the Spanish coast on September 23, 2006. Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (3216x2136, 2560 KB)The EADS Barracuda demonstrator model UAV at ILA 2006. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (3216x2136, 2560 KB)The EADS Barracuda demonstrator model UAV at ILA 2006. ... ILA2004 display area The Berlin Air Show ILA2006 belongs to the most important aerospace trade-fairs in the world and takes place in Berlin, Germany. ... This article is about the continent. ... UAVs in a hangar An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) is a pilotless aircraft, controlled either remotely or flown autonomously, used for a number of missions, including reconnaissance and attack roles. ... The European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company EADS N.V. (EADS) is a large European aerospace corporation, formed by the merger on July 10, 2000 of Aérospatiale-Matra of France, Construcciones Aeronáuticas SA (CASA) of Spain, and DaimlerChrysler Aerospace AG (DASA) of Germany. ... Mixed reconnaissance patrol of the Polish Home Army and the Soviet Red Army during Operation Tempest, 1944 Reconnaissance is the military term for the active gathering of information about an enemy, or other conditions, by physical observation. ... September 23 is the 266th day of the year (267th in leap years). ... This is a list of aviation-related events from 2006: // January 19 - Jet Airways announces its purchase of Air Sahara, creating the largest domestic airliner in India. ...

Development

The Barracuda on the Manching Air Base in Germany

The Barracuda originated as a UAV design study, intended to push EADS into the market for medium-altitude long-range UAVs, a market they view as dominated by the United States and Israel.^[2] Its official debut was at the 2006 International Aerospace Exhibition, where military applications and specifications for the Barracuda were revealed. EADS' current focus is to get the Barracuda certified for unregulated flight in Germany's designated airspace, while the long-term goal is to have it certified for non-segregated airspace.^[3] Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (2560x1920, 2192 KB) Familien-Tag bei EADS in Manching 10. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (2560x1920, 2192 KB) Familien-Tag bei EADS in Manching 10. ... Manching is a municipality in the district of Pfaffenhofen, in Bavaria, Germany. ... 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... ILA2004 display area The Berlin Air Show ILA2006 belongs to the most important aerospace trade-fairs in the world and takes place in Berlin, Germany. ...

They also plan to develop the Barracuda as a modular platform, so that it can be refitted for various roles like maritime patrol.^[4] Offensive capabilities are not planned, but it may be refitted to carry weapons if customers express interest for it. Maritime patrol is the task of monitoring large areas of water. ...

Germany is also discussing a partnership with Sweden and Italy for a multinational unmanned aerial vehicle effort in order to compete with the French-led Dassault nEUROn programme.^[5] Sweden is already a participant in the French-led effort.^[6] nEUROn (formerly spelled Neuron) is the European UCAV technology demonstrator. This delta wing stealth Unmanned Combat Air Vehicle project is the final phase of the French Dassault Aviation LOGIDUC 3-step stealth combat drone programme. ...

Design

The Barracuda is based on commercially available 'off the shelf' components, but also many refined systems. Its fuselage is constructed entirely from carbon fibre - the only significant metal component is the wing spar, running through the middle and reinforcing the wings. The wing spar allows for easy removal of the wings for transportation. Carbon fiber composite is a strong, light and very expensive material. ...

EADS is currently studying a two-engine variant of the UAV which would weigh about the same as the nEUROn. This two-engine variant could have its first flight in 2008.

Specifications

General characteristics

• Crew: 0
• Length: 27 ft 0 in (8.25 m)
• Wingspan: 23.7 ft in (7.22 m)
• Height: ft in (m)
• Wing area: ft (m)
• Empty weight: lb (2300 kg)
• Loaded weight: lb (kg)
• Useful load: lb (kg)
• Max takeoff weight: lb (3250 kg)

Performance

• Never exceed speed: mph (km/h)
• Maximum speed: 0.85 mach (km/h)
• Cruise speed: mph (km/h)
• Stall speed: mph (km/h)
• Range: mi (km)
• Service ceiling: ft (m)
• Rate of climb: ft/min (m/s)
• Wing loading: lb/ft² (kg/m²)

The distance AB is the wing span of this Aer Lingus Airbus A320. ... In aviation, the Maximum Take-Off Weight (or MTOW) is the maximum weight with which an aircraft is allowed to try to achieve flight. ... An aircrafts Vne is the velocity that should never be exceeded. ... VNO of an aircraft is the V speed which refers to the velocity of normal operation. ... Airspeed Indicator in a light aircraft The VC of an aircraft is the V speed which refers to the velocity of cruising. ... Stall speed is an aerodynamic term. ... The maximal total range is the distance an aircraft can fly between takeoff and landing as limited by its fuel capacity. ... In aeronautics, the service ceiling is the maximum density altitude where the best rate of climb airspeed will produce a 100 feet per minute climb(twin engine) and 50 feet(single engine) at maximum weight while in a clean configuration with maximum continuous power. ... This page is a candidate to be moved to Wiktionary. ... In aerodynamics, wing loading is the loaded weight of the aircraft divided by the area of the wing. ...

External links

• Air-Attack.com's page on the Barracuda
• http://www.eads.net/ EADS Website with pictures of the "Advanced UAV Demonstrator Barracuda" at ILA 2006

ILA2004 display area The Berlin Air Show ILA2006 belongs to the most important aerospace trade-fairs in the world and takes place in Berlin, Germany. ...

References

1. ^ UAV demonstrator opens up new technology perspectives for EADS
2. ^ Barracuda
3. ^ One step beyond
4. ^ High-speed Barracuda could spawn modular UAV family - ILA show report
5. ^ Germany, Italy and Sweden hold project talks on 'Agile' advanced UAV in bid to beat French-led Neuron
6. ^ Important player in Neuron

Related content

Comparable aircraft

• RQ-9 Predator B
• RQ-3 Dark Star
• Corax
• Dassault Neuron

  Predator-B Unmanned Aerial Vehicle. ... The RQ-3 DarkStar (known as Tier III- during development) unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) was operated by the US Air Force. ... The Corax, also known as Raven, is a prototype UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle) for the British Armed Forces being developed by BAE Systems. ... nEUROn (formerly spelled Neuron) is the European UCAV technology demonstrator. This delta wing stealth Unmanned Combat Air Vehicle project is the final phase of the French Dassault Aviation LOGIDUC 3-step stealth combat drone programme. ...

See also

• European defence procurement