EADS Barracuda

Le système de drone (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle – UAV) Barracuda est un démonstrateur technologique destiné au développement de futurs systèmes de drone agiles, autonomes et capables d’effectuer des opérations réseau-centrées.

En juillet 2009, Military Air Systems a repris avec succès ses essais en vol sur la base aérienne militaire canadienne de Goose Bay en utilisant une nouvelle version perfectionnée du drone expérimental. Une plate-forme expérimentale, consacrée aux technologies et procédures des futurs systèmes opérationnels de drones sous un nom de projet connu depuis longtemps, vole ainsi de nouveau. Lors du vol, le démonstrateur technologique confirme les résultats obtenus lors de simulations dans le cadre du programme « Agile UAV ». Le premier vol a été réalisé par un démonstrateur portant ce nom en avril 2006.

L’exemplaire de développement, réalisé en matériau composite à fibres de carbone (d’une longueur de plus de 8 mètres, d’une envergure de plus de 7 mètres et d’une masse maximale au décollage de plus de 3 tonnes), vole en toute autonomie et n’est surveillé par une station sol que pour les aspects liés à la sécurité aérienne. Le banc volant, conçu comme un « aéronef électrique » (sur lequel les éléments hydrauliques lourds ont été remplacés par des servomoteurs électriques à l’exception du train d’atterrissage), est doté de commandes de vol triplex et dispose d’une architecture avionique ouverte modulaire, permettant une installation et une intégration simple de nombreux capteurs. Cela inclut les senseurs optroniques et infrarouges, les dispositifs de marquage de cible par faisceau laser, les détecteurs d’émission électromagnétique (Emitter Locator Systems – ELS) ainsi qu’un radar ultramoderne à ouverture synthétique (Synthetic Aperture Radar – SAR).

Could Barracuda be stealthy?
Posted by Robert Wall at 12/8/2009 4:55 AM CST

EADS has now built two versions of the Barracuda unmanned aircraft demonstrator, and while both (they are basically the same planform) have some low observable features, the European aerospace house shied away from making it a true low-observable platform.
It was not for a lack of ideas. Company officials say they explored the notion of fitting Barracuda with thrust vector control. That design feature would have eliminated or at least reduced the size of the two vertical stabilizers.


But as is often the case in Europe, cost trumped stealth in the development equation. Rolf Wirtz, the chief technology officer for EADS Defense and Security says that going for a low observable platform was deferred because a decision was taken to focus more on integrating the entire system. Pursuing a stealth air vehicle design “would have been far more expensive,” he notes.

Instead, as is well documented and easily visible, EADS went for some “cheap” radar cross section reducing design techniques, including placing the engine intake on the upper side of the fuselage, aligning the leading and trailing edges of the wings, and making sure other angels on the air vehicle minimize reflections.

When Germany will see a proper low observable air vehicle is a good question. The French-led Neuron demonstrator puts more emphasis on stealth than Barracuda, as do unmanned combat air vehicle endeavors in the U.K.

But the debate in Germany remains open, with the country not participating in either of those activities. What’s more, with France and the U.K. exploring potential cooperation, Germany could be sidelined altogether.


Furthermore, with EADS trying to convince Berlin (and others) to support development of the Talarion unmanned aircraft (designed to operate in permissible environments), there seems little industrial push to go ahead with an LO project.


As is so often the case in Germany, what the customer wants, in this case the Luftwaffe, seems irrelevant in the debate.

Barracuda UAV could link with Typhoon for attack demo
By Rob Coppinger

EADS's Barracuda unmanned air vehicle could be teamed with a Eurofighter Typhoon for a ground-attack demonstration in 2011, if a contract is signed next year.

The sensor-to-shooter trial would see the Barracuda technology demonstrator "paint" a ground target for a Eurofighter or other aircraft to attack. The UAV could have a direct datalink with its manned partner, or a downlink to a ground station. The ground station commander would approve an attack after the Barracuda had provided the target location data.

"We have had a national contract [with the German government], and Finland and Switzerland are partners and will remain so for the [sensor-to-shooter] demonstration," says EADS Barracuda programme manager Thomas Gottmann.

The project could include four or five flights, but Gottmann declines to give a value for the contract, which is currently under negotiation.

Technology developments needed for the effort include adaptive flight routing for teaming co-ordination, related time-sensitive navigation and onboard target recognition.


A Barracuda completed a series of four reconnaissance flights earlier this year during trials over Goose Bay in Canada. Gottman expects the air vehicle to return to Canada, and to possibly also use a European test area for the teaming demonstration.