Airbus Group’s defense business on Thursday said the Eurodrone unmanned aircraft systems being developed for combat support missions successfully completed its preliminary design review (PDR), clearing the way for detailed design.
The medium-altitude, long-endurance remotely piloted aircraft is being developed four France, Germany, Italy, and Spain with a goal of providing Europe its own competencies in unmanned aircraft systems (UAS). Airbus Defence and Space Spain, Dassault Aviation
, and Leonardo are the principal subcontractors.
The PDR was completed with the Organization for Joint Armament Cooperation, which includes the defense ministries of France, Germany, Italy, the United Kingdom, Belgium, and Spain.
Initial design work included wind tunnel testing to confirm aerodynamic configuration, technical assessments of operational capability, and validation of a “fully representative digital twin,” Airbus Defense and Space said.
Eurodrone is being developed for intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition, and reconnaissance, and armed missions. The UAS is also being developed for integration into civil airspace.