UAVs in Germany

[001]~ KZO - Surveillance, Reconnaissance and Localization UAV
[002]~ TARES (TAIFUN) – Combat Air Vehicle System
[003]~ Electronic Warfare Support/Attack
[004]~ MALE / HALE UAV System
[005]~ System Configurations
[006]~ DA42 OPALE
[007]~ Rheinmetall
[008]~ Diamond Aircraft
[009]~ General Atomics

[010]~ UAV.com
[011]~ Diehl BGT Defence GmbH & Co. KG
[012]~ TESTEM GmbH
[013]~ free Ξ
[014]~ free Ξ
[015]~ free Ξ
[016]~ free Ξ
[017]~ free Ξ
[018]~ free Ξ

«Business Plan

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[001] ~ KZO - Kleinfluggerät Zielortung

Rheinmetall DeTecA/
ξ KZO stands for "Kleinfluggerät Zielortung", or "small aircraft for target localisation" is an UAV
ξ By the end of 2007, the German Army will have six KZO systems in its inventory,
ξ comprising sixty drones and twelve ground systems.
ξ The first system was delivered in November 2005.
ξ
ξ The drone provides the ground station with precise, comprehensive information in real time.
ξ Apart from its obvious role as a source of battlefield intelligence,
ξ the KZO can also be deployed to monitor ceasefires or sanctions.
ξ
ξ The KZO drone operates at altitudes of 300 to 3,500 metres.
ξ Equipped with a de-icing system, it is deployable in virtually all weathers.
ξ Even under conditions of heavy electromagnetic interference,
ξ it can transmit target information back to base at ranges of over 100 kilometres.
ξ The KZO can detect stationary and moving targets alike, including their speed and direction of travel;
ξ it can remain aloft for over 3.5 hours.
ξ
ξ Due to its small size and advanced stealth technology covering the entire spectral range,
ξ the KZO is virtually invisible when in flight.
ξ Manufactured of stealth-material, Rheinmetall's new UAV is compactly dimensioned,
ξ with a wingspan of 3.42 metres and a length of 2.26 metres;
ξ the fuselage measures 36 centimetres in diameter.
ξ
ξ Main features
ξ
ξ The basic UAV-platform developed by Rheinmetall Defence Electronics can also be used to adapt other payloads for different tasks such as
ξ
ξ Reconnaissance (Combination Infrared/Daylight Camera, Laser Rangefinder)
ξ Electronic Counter Measure (ECM)
ξ Electronic Support Measure (ESM)
ξ N(B)C Detection
ξ SAR

Technical data

ξ Wing span 3.42m
ξ Length 2.25m
ξ Launch weight 161 kg
ξ Payload weight 35 kg
ξ Max. airspeed 220 km/h
ξ Typical target-seeking speed 150 km/h
ξ Endurance 3.5 h
ξ Max. service ceiling 3,500 m
ξ Data-link range > 100 km
ξ Engine two stroke, 24 kW
ξ De-icing warm air
ξ UAV structure composite-stealth material
ξ Launch booster/catapult
ξ Landing parachute/airbag

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[002] ~ TARES

Rheinmetall DeTecAUAV

Introduction:
ξ today's and future combat scenarios, targets in hostile areas have to be destroyed
ξ without endangering friendly forces and civilians and without exposing own troops to enemy fire.
ξ The combat UAV TARES is a system especially designed for such missions.
ξ The container launched air vehicle is a cross-wing type with pusher propeller,
ξ designed for high point precision target engagement in steep dive.

TARES can search, identify and destroy armoured or unarmoured targets such as
- Command posts
- Air defence systems
- Artillery systems
- Tanks
- Helicopters
- Mobile war bridges
- Infrastructure
- Forces on the move
- Other valuable targets in a designated area within a range of 200 km with "man in the loop" target selection,
- identification and supervision of target approach.
- Through their physical presence, TARES UAV's are capable of maintaining the threat to hostile forces for many hours.

Main features

ξ Multi-Spectral STEALTH UAV
ξ Carries a Shaped Charge WARHEAD
ξ 2 -Dimensional RADAR SEEKER-HEAD
ξ Is a “FIRE and FORGET” UCAV and / or controlled by Ground Station
ξ Additional identification capability by Thermal Imaging Sensor
ξ Option for different modes of image transmission

Technical data
ξ On request

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[003] ~ Electronic Warfare Support/Attack

Rheinmetall Defence Electronics tactical signal-acquisition and signal-jamming systems
ξ can be combined with other systems to provide a means of determining the mission tactics of the enemy
ξ before the commencement of military action, and
ξ then to engage/suppress these enemy systems by spatially selective jamming of specific frequencies at appropriate times and locations.
ξ Rheinmetall Defence Electronics tactical UAVs represent an operationally reliable and
ξ cost-efficient reconnaissance solution for modern armies.
ξ Because of their modular design, and their ability to be combined with other systems,
ξ they can be deployed anywhere in the world.

Main features
ξ On request

Technical data
ξ On request

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[004] ~ Male/Hale

ξ Male/Hale is an airtransportable UAV system for wide-area intelligence-gathering, surveillance and reconnaissance tasks.
ξ It is capable of transmitting data in real time and flying uninterruptedly for upwards of 30 hours.

ξ Rheinmetall Defence Electronics adapted components already in service in its tactical UAV systems and
ξ adapted these to take account of the specific tactical requirements for a wide-area system.

ξ The core MALE/HALE device is the PREDATOR, which is currently in service with the US Air Force;
ξ this device is manufactured by the project partner General Atomics Aeronautical Systems.
ξ The PREDATOR is able to operate at very high altitudes, which minimizes shadowing effects.
ξ In addition, because of the steepness of its sensors' observation angles,
ξ it provides optimum views of the area or object being reconnoitred.
ξ The PREDATOR's ability to fly at high altitudes also increases its survival capability,
ξ since it can be programmed to operate on flight paths that are beyond the range of most air defence systems.

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[005] ~ System Configurations

UAV Systems delivered by Rheinmetall Defence Electronics comprise of following items:

Truck-Mounted Ground Control Station:
ξ Identical workstations with interchangeable tasks for flight-control, sensor-control, communications.
ξ Interface to C4I-system or others RDE's interoperable Ground Control Station is modular in design,
ξ and its system architecture permits links with several UAV's for mission-planning,
ξ flight-control, payload-management, data-evaluation, information-distribution and data-management purposes.

Truck-Mounted Ground Data Terminal:
ξ Link between Ground Control Station and the UAV Jam-resistant data transmission in real time.

Truck-Mounted Launcher:
ξ Automatic pre-flight check and launch sequence Booster launch independent from wind direction Option => Catapult Start

Recovery Vehicle:
ξ General UAV handling. All-terrain capability.

Refurbishing Vehicle:
ξ Post Flight Check and Pre Flight Preparation MES-2 maintenance level for Air Vehicle;
ξ Launch Sequence Electronic; Detection, localisation and replacement of failed LRU's.

Logistics / In Service Support:
ξ Complete Service provided by RDE. Documentation; Training; Spare Parts; Lifetime Support.

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[006] ~ DA42 OPALE

ξ Rheinmetall Defence Electronics offers integrated border control systems covering a full spectrum of products and services,
ξ ranging from operational advice and system design to complete turnkey projects, including infrastructure measures.

ξ For a bird's eye perspective of the border, RDE and its partner Diamond Aircraft offer an aerial surveillance solution
ξ that represents the ultimate in cost effectiveness.
ξ The OPALE 42 system is based on a certified civil aviation aircraft featuring extremely low running costs.
ξ The optional piloted vehicle (OPV) version can be equipped with various sensors,
ξ monitoring radars and an automatic identification system (AIS) for maritime transportation.
ξ Real-time transmission of the sensor data to the ground station runs over a UHF/VHF data link or INMARSAT satellite channels.

ξ In the future, once the conditions for certifying the safety of pilotless aircraft have been defined,
ξ it will be possible to retrofit the OPV with a flight control computer,
ξ turning it into an unmanned air vehicle. Its already impressive flight duration times could then be increased to up to 30 hours.

Main features

DA42 Twin Star

ξ modern carbon composite airframe
ξ twin jet fuel burning TAE Centurion 1.7 turbo-diesel engines
ξ fully integrated Garmin G1000 glass flight deck
ξ range 780 NM to 1.700 NM

Technical data
ξ On request

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[007] ~ Rheinmetall

Rheinmetall DeTecA/ - Interview

ξ The Tares attack drone is capable of remaining aloft for up to four hours and attaining a range of up to 200 kilometres.
ξ Germany's Bundeswehr has already been deploying unmanned aircraft for many years.
ξ RDE's new KZO drone, whose initials stand for Kleinfluggerät Zielortung or "small air vehicle, target-locating"
ξ and which is currently being introduced into the Bundeswehr, is claimed to sets new standards with respect to

precision,

reliability,

availability,

real-time capability,

range and

autonomy.

ξ The KZO was originally developed in order to support long-range artillery systems like the PzH 2000 self-propelled howitzer.
ξ Their ability to engage point targets at ranges of up to 65 kilometres created a need for new reconnaissance systems
ξ which would enable full exploitation of this unprecedented gain in range and precision.

ξ This approach to artillery operations has two decisive advantages:
ξ greater accuracy means that the desired effect on the target can be achieved with a smaller expenditure of ammunition;
ξ while the risk of collateral damage is also reduced.
ξ This example of finely honed high technology is the outcome of an elaborate research and development effort.

ξ Ralf Hastedt began work on drone systems for various applications as early as 1988.
ξ Now head of sales of aviation systems at RDE, he is one of more than 200 experts
ξ engaged in the ongoing development of unmanned aviation technology at this Bremen-based company.
ξ "Prior to 1988", recalls Hastedt, "the original challenge was essentially to recreate and replace the pilot."

ξ The result: the unmanned air vehicle, whose mission was to fly pre-planned missions on an autonomous basis.
ξ It was intended that the operator of these vehicles would be able in future missions
ξ to focus fully on data collection and analysis.
ξ "As early as the 1970s, we had already laid the basic groundwork which would enable us to make do without a pilot",
ξ explains Hastedt, a graduate in communications engineering who spent his military service as a forward artillery observer.

ξ However, there are still UAV systems in service today which are controlled manually and require runways,
ξ and thus demand substantial spending on infrastructure and training.
ξ Moreover, numerous contractors came up with concepts to use drones as decoys to deceive enemy aircraft.

ξ In Germany, by contrast, we've pursued a basic policy right from the start
ξ that autonomous remote reconnaissance operations and standoff engagement of targets
ξ should both be able to be carried out by drones, says Hastedt.
ξ Anything that was dangerous, dull or dusty was supposed to be performed by autonomous devices,
ξ thus making life safer and easier for human beings.

Today more than ever, when out-of-area deployments and peace enforcement missions are the order of the day,
ξ the long years of patience and past effort is finally paying off:
ξ a significant operational requirement now exists for unmanned standoff reconnaissance
ξ – a capability that substantially widens an army's operational spectrum.

ξ Since 1998, RDE has pressed ahead with the development of unmanned aircraft based on the Brevel system.
ξ In 2005, delivery of the KZO reconnaissance UAV commenced;
ξ by 2007, the Bundeswehr will be equipped with six of these systems,
ξ corresponding to 60 UAVs and the accompanying ground equipment, including 12 ground control stations.

ξ RDE's KZO drone, which is currently being introduced into the Bundeswehr,
ξ sets entirely new standards with respect to precision, reliability, availability, real-time capability, range and autonomy.

ξ As a tactical reconnaissance asset, the KZO will be deployed at brigade level.
ξ This is in line with its intended tactical role as a small, lightweight, highly mobile reconnaissance system
ξ for short- and medium-range missions in the area of operations.

ξ Higher-echelon classes of UAV are deployed by other branches of the military in a strategic role,
ξ e.g. the Medium Altitude Long Endurance ("Male") and High Altitude Long Endurance ("Hale") systems deployed by the US Air Force.

ξ Partnered with the firepower of the PzH 2000 and other long-range delivery systems,
ξ the KZO will replace traditional ground-based forms of reconnaissance,
ξ which are in any case incapable of reaching a distance of 65 kilometres
ξ and which place soldiers at considerable risk because the have to operate deep in enemy territory.

As a result, long-range assets such as self-propelled howitzers and rocket launchers can be provided with target data
ξ almost instantaneously. The whole process can be accomplished in barely 60 seconds,
ξ thanks not least to the use of jamming-proof data links that operate in the gigahertz range.
ξ "Today, data links of this kind have a range of 120 kilometres, maybe even 150 ", reveals Hastedt.

ξ Moreover, due to its compact size and low optical signature,
ξ the KZO is virtually invisible
ξ Made of plastic, the air vehicle is really quite small:
ξ just 2.28 metres in length, and with a wingspan of 3.24 metres.
ξ Moreover, its fuselage measures a mere 91 centimetres in diameter.

ξ Thanks in part also to signature camouflage, its silhouette barely registers on enemy radar screens.
ξ "It's really too small for radar to pick up, plus it has characteristics untypical of other aircraft", insists Ralf Hastedt.

ξ Unlike cheaper, simpler systems, the KZO is characterized by a high degree of system survivability and autonomy.
ξ "This is no place to cut corners, which inevitably comes at the cost of reliability.
ξ After all, peoples' lives are at stake when it comes to tactical information.
ξ Which is why demand is on the increase for high-precision, modular systems which can survive on their own", declares Hastedt.

ξ The KZO falls squarely into this category.
ξ Both day and night, it is capable of carrying out reconnaissance missions in virtually all weathers,
ξ even under conditions of severe icing.
ξ High mobility and global deployability likewise feature among the strengths of this Bremen-made UAV.
ξ As a rule, the KZO flies its missions on a pre-programmed basis.
ξ If necessary, however, its flight path can be altered during the mission from the ground station;
ξ it is also possible to hand over control of the drone to another ground station.

ξ Although the KZO is equipped with a GPS system,
ξ it normally navigates with the aid of position measuring and an automatic comparison of the aerial view
ξ with the pre-programmed digital map.
ξ This means that the drone can operate without the need for GPS,
ξ which is susceptible to disruption and electronic countermeasures.
ξ In addition, evasive flight manoeuvres enhance its survivability,
ξ even if it encounters antiaircraft fire.
ξ "What's more, the UAV can loiter over the target zone", adds Hastedt,
ξ meaning that it can either wait for targets of opportunity to appear or take on new missions.

ξ Depending on the equipment configuration,
ξ such missions can vary quite considerably.
ξ For example, the ground-controlled Ophelios infrared sensor – the "magic eye" onboard the KZO drone
ξ – has an 8 x zoom feature.
ξ It is suspended on multiple axes, meaning that the images it delivers remain upright and steady even during extreme flight manoeuvres.

ξ Moreover, these images can be evaluated in near real-time at the ground station.
ξ Reconnaissance missions arrive at the ground station in digital format
ξ and are forwarded to the UAV in the form of a flight program;
ξ the team in the ground station container monitors the progress of the mission,
ξ and can hand over control of the drone to another control station further afield.

ξ Here, too, the modular concept of the overall system comes into its own:
ξ data from the control station is transmitted via a fibre optic cable to the antenna vehicle.
ξ This takes the form of jamming-proof "full duplex" data transmission, in which both sides can send and receive data.

ξ For situations where this cannot be done immediately,
ξ RDE engineers have worked out a solution.
ξ Take a situation where the KZO conducts filming operations in an area
ξ in which radio transmission is either disrupted or impossible.
ξ In such cases, up to ten minutes of video footage is recorded and compressed on board.
ξ Once the data link is restored, the ground crew can still download and analyze the imagery.

ξ Normally, though, the soldiers in the ground control station are able to monitor the situation
ξ in the area of operations live at all times.
ξ This is something which differentiates the KZO from other reconnaissance systems,
ξ which either transmit images of the overflight area immediately or record them for later evaluation.

ξ But the KZO's capabilities are by no means limited to infrared monitoring.
ξ Able to shoulder up to 35 kilograms, this UAV can carry numerous different payloads.
ξ "We have the world's best payload-to-vehicle weight ratio, a factor of less than one to five", affirms Hastedt.

ξ Electronic warfare equipment for jamming enemy communications
ξ or reconnoitring enemy data links offers a good example of a possible payload.
ξ Here in particular, Ralf Hastedt sees strong future potential for the intelligent KZO:
ξ "We can use it to locate radio and mobile phone networks,
ξ which would be very useful for predicting enemy activity well in advance."

ξ This lightweight system, which fits into the launch container in ready-to-fly configuration,
ξ makes it suitable for use by rapidly advancing forces,
ξ even when travelling on narrow roads.
ξ It is launched directly from the transport container by means of a launcher rocket,
ξ though it can also be launched using a catapult.

ξ During flight, the KZO is powered by a motor-driven tail propeller.
ξ With a takeoff weight of 161 kilograms,
ξ it can cruise at mission speeds ranging from 120 to 220 kilometres per hour at mission altitudes of 300 to 3,500 metres.
ξ Thanks to its onboard de-icing system, the KZO can operate under virtually all weather conditions.

ξ Nor have arrangements for its safe return to base been neglected:
ξ the KZO lands by parachute with pinpoint precision on specially designed airbags.
ξ Thus, just as it is able to take off from the mobile launch unit regardless of the terrain or the particular mission,
ξ it can also land anywhere. Maintenance work is carried out in the mobile container system.

ξ Obviously, a system of this kind also lends itself to monitoring borders and coastlines.
ξ This opens up tremendous potential for gaining a foothold in new markets:
ξ "We're planning to export this system to numerous countries around the globe", declares the 43-year-old sales manager.

ξ For example, together with the company's new US partner,
ξ Teledyne Brown Engineering of Huntsville, Alabama,
ξ RDE hopes to tap into the US market with a variant of the KZO
ξ specially designed for the country's "Future Combat System".
ξ And for situations calling for a more robust response than mere reconnaissance,
ξ RDE now offers the Tares, a state-of-the-art attack drone.

ξ Because there are systems and components around the world
ξ which UAV specialists can rely on,
ξ in the future RDE will also be marketing externally produced systems in its capacity as a complete systems supplier.
ξ Take Eagle Eye, for example:
ξ in cooperation with the companies Sagem and Bell Helicopters,
ξ RDE will be offering this vertical takeoff and landing system in Europe.

ξ In this case, this US-developed system will be equipped with a Bremen-made payload
ξ – infrared cameras, for instance – and will be controlled from an RDE ground station.
ξ "In this way, numerous new synergy effects come into play when it comes to the carrier drones,
ξ which will of course be equipped with systems where RDE expertise is right on the cutting edge", stresses Hastedt.

ξ Ralf Hastedt is also homing in on the market potential of the world's navies.
ξ At present, various European shipbuilding and/ or modernization programmes are underway,
ξ for instance in France, Italy and Germany.
ξ Ship-based UAVs, which have a standoff reconnaissance capability,
ξ are set to play a major role in future naval reconnaissance operations,
ξ predicts Hastedt, pointing out that "radar systems are always limited by the horizon."

ξ UAVs can see beyond the horizon, making them superior in this respect to surface radar systems.
ξ As Hastedt explains, "The Eagle Eye system offers an excellent example of this capability.
ξ We don't make the UAV itself, of course,
ξ but we do supply customers with the interoperable command station as well equipping the system
ξ with a payload of whatever sensors and effectors are required.

ξ In the long-range MALE systems domain,
ξ Rheinmetall Defence Electronics is also cooperating successfully with other companies.
ξ In order to offer the US-built "Predator" platform to air forces in Europe,
ξ RDE is cooperating with the Diehl company.
ξ RDE will be supplying the necessary ground stations and sensors,
ξ and will act in tandem with Diehl to offer the complete system in Germany.

ξ Nor is reconnaissance a matter merely for the military.
ξ The police in a number of countries are already using drone aircraft in a surveillance and monitoring role.
ξ In the crowded skies over Europe, the use of UAVs is held back by regulatory rather than technological limits.

ξ "In the future, drones will have to play by the rules governing air traffic,
ξ and make their presence known to other aircraft.
ξ We can definitely do this with the KZO system,
ξ meaning that it will be able take part in general air traffic", states Hastedt.
ξ By equipping the UAVs with appropriate transponders
ξ they become instantly recognizable as such.
ξ This opens up the possibility of using UAVs in a wide variety of tasks
ξ e.g. for monitoring roads and rail lines during the transport of hazardous goods (nuclear waste, for example),
ξ as well as for controlling borders and monitoring coastlines.
ξ The company's Carolo mini-drone, by the way, was developed especially for civil sector tasks.
ξ Flying in satellite-supported, autonomous mode,
ξ the Carolo P50 micro-drone system can be deployed in military and civil contexts alike.

ξ Clearly, when it comes to possible applications the sky is the limit:
ξ "Conceivably, in cooperation with other companies,
ξ we could supply air vehicles which are able to fly with or without a pilot,
ξ and which could be used in military, paramilitary and police operations in a surveillance or monitoring role.
ξ Our objective is to offer system solutions and services
ξ such as the overflight of certain areas on a contract basis.
ξ The idea is to be able to offer demand-oriented short-term system solutions
ξ coupled with comprehensive support and flexible services as a core element of our future UAV operations", explains Hastedt.

ξ Despite the small number of units each customer can be expected to buy,
ξ RDE considers itself well positioned in the UAV market thanks to its KZO,
ξ Carolo and Tares systems, whose modularity – coupled with international cooperation programmes
ξ – makes them commercially viable and flexible to produce.

ξ In Europe, Hastedt sees abundant scope for cooperation with other companies.
ξ In any case the technological trend points to greater system autonomy and self-reliance:
ξ "Today we need to invest in making UAVs better at carrying out autonomous missions.
ξ It's possible to imagine a system receiving a mission,
ξ and then automatically processing, managing and evaluating the data before forwarding it on,
ξ with or without a ground station, and feeding it into a data network", says Hastedt, casting an eye to the future.

ξ His vision of tomorrow also encompasses fuel:
ξ Hastedt envisages a day when UAVs are no longer fuelled by kerosene,
ξ but are instead powered by diesel engines or fuel cells.

ξ What role do unmanned air vehicles play today?

ξ Today UAVs are deployed in all kinds of military operations and at all levels of escalation.
ξ As robotic systems, they are primarily intended for a combat or combat support role,
ξ though they are also very useful in supporting peacekeeping and peace enforcement missions.

ξ By using UAVs, its possible to avoid risking the lives of your own soldiers
ξ while still showing the flag and letting the enemy know you mean business.

What all can a UAV do?

ξ At present, UAVs are deployed first and foremost for intelligence gathering and reconnaissance,
ξ but they can also be used in an offensive or protective capacity.
ξ Their main mission is to provide imagery – both day and night –
ξ even under the most difficult operating conditions.
ξ They also engage in electronic warfare operations, jamming enemy communications,
ξ as well as providing timely information on the tactical situation.
ξ And UAVs are already being used to carry out pinpoint attacks on selected targets.

Where do the KZO's strengths lie?

ξ Force transformation is an ongoing process which involves having to modify your equipment to meet new mission requirements.
ξ Today, RDE's KZO drone is capable of carrying out general monitoring and surveillance operations.
ξ But thanks to its modular design, the system can be quickly and inexpensively modified to perform other missions.

ξ Thus, the KZO lends its perfectly to the ongoing process of force transformation.
ξ We've already shown that it can operate under even the toughest conditions.
ξ Worldwide, the KZO system offers the best payload-to-total weight and size ratio of any drone.
ξ Moreover, it can be quickly adapted at any time to operate with the latest network-enabled command and control systems.

What will the Tares attack drone be able to do?

ξ Tares is the successor of the Taifun UAV.
ξ (The acronym Tares stands for "Tactical Advanced Recce Strike System", by the way.)
ξ Tares was designed and engineered to ensure a high degree of compatibility with our KZO system.

ξ Essentially, it is a fully autonomous standoff weapons platform capable of striking targets
ξ anywhere in its area of operations.
ξ It is also capable of guided operations in which the operator has the final say in a continuous process of target
ξ identification and verification. We call this the man-in-the-loop (MITL) function.

ξ What's special about this is that operator is aided by the all-weather-capable target search and
ξ target classification capabilities of the Tares sensor head, which is a major relief during extended search-and-destroy missions.

What differentiates the RDE system from its competitors?

ξ Designed on the basis of the KZO, the Tares features highly advance automation and autonomy functions.
ξ In the future this technology will be crucial in providing sensor data processing and operator support.

ξ Already today, advanced networked systems generate a multiplicity of data and information,
ξ which, thanks to the advanced mission intelligence of systems like Tares,
ξ the operator can now exploit properly for the first time. Moreover,
ξ Tares doesn't depend on navigation systems like GPS that can be interrupted or jammed,
ξ and – unlike guided missiles – it can loiter over the target zone.

Are systems like this going to render fighter pilots obsolete someday?

ξ It's certainly true that attack drones with appropriate system characteristics will be used in the future
ξ in a typical aerial combat role. And when the time comes, RDE will be ready with the necessary technology.

What is the market for UAVs like?

ξ The robotics market – especially aerial robotics – is growing at quite a clip.
ξ Growth rates have been topping 20 percent in some regions.

ξ In the United States and Europe, the emphasis has been on expanding the array of options available to the military,
ξ to include long-range UAVs and the replacement of obsolete tactical systems.

ξ In the Asia-Pacific region, fully operational systems are currently being introduced,
ξ ranging in scale from tactical drones to longer-range strategic systems.

Do customer requirements vary?

ξ They certainly do! Based on past patterns,
ξ long-term procurement has ranged from meticulously customized designs to quickly available modular systems delivered in small numbers.

ξ Thanks to cooperation agreements with other companies,
ξ the RDE range of products now extends beyond its basic KZO and Tares.
ξ Together with partners in Europe, we're working on follow-on generations based on the KZO,
ξ aiming to produce future European solutions in the tactical systems domain.
ξ Here, the idea is to integrate UAVs into a higher echelon "system of systems" in the military and paramilitary sphere.

What sort of applications will we see in the civil sector?

ξ It really depends on whether UAVs will be allowed to take part in general aviation traffic or not.
ξ There's definitely potential for using them in a police or paramilitary capacity,
ξ for instance in monitoring coastlines and land borders,
ξ as well as in a homeland security role,
ξ for example in safeguarding sensitive installations like energy distribution networks.
ξ In a sense, the requirements – whether military, paramilitary or police – at least partly overlap.

What about RDE's role as a system supplier and competency centre?

ξ RDE possesses a complete systems capability, encompassing development,
ξ production and modification, and of course service and technical support.
ξ We start with a requirements analysis, and progress on to a system or subsystem concept and specification,
ξ followed by the development and fabrication of core elements of the vehicle and payload function chain;
ξ each level, up to and including the complete system,
ξ is then subject to certification.
ξ Moreover, RDE offers users a complete support package,
ξ including lifetime service for the entire system.

ξ So it's definitely fair to say that RDE is a supplier of complete solutions for UAV systems and applications.

A new, more intelligent "Taifun"

ξ RDE is currently modifying its Taifun attack drone for a standoff engagement role.
ξ Originally intended for use against massed armour formations,
ξ it was designed to operate as an autonomous system, seeking out and destroying targets.
ξ Now Taifun is being endowed with new intelligence; the modified version of the system is known as the Tares,
ξ standing for "Tactical Advanced Recce and Strike".

ξ The Tares attack drone is a highly advanced weapons system capable of remaining aloft for up to four hours
ξ and attaining a range of up to 200 kilometres.
ξ When it comes to finding, classifying and engaging targets behind enemy lines,
ξ Tares fulfils the Bundeswehr's complete catalogue of performance criteria.

ξ Arising from the need to operate in future trouble spots and conflict scenarios,
ξ the new system specifications confronted RDE's technicians with considerable challenges.

ξ Among these design specifications is the clear-cut identification of targets,
ξ enabling the operator to decide at any time whether or not to engage a target.
ξ Tares will thus furnish the operator in the ground station not only with radar imagery but also with high-resolution
ξ infrared images of stationary and moving targets from up to 600 kilometres away,
ξ depending on the type of data link.

ξ This gives the team on the ground the option of intervening in order for instance
ξ to switch targets or even abort the mission.
ξ to enable this, the system can be equipped with an infrared imaging device mounted to the underside of the UAV,
ξ supplementing its built-in image-generating radar sensor.

ξ Moreover, state-of-the-art imagery data densification coupled with a high-performance data channel
ξ permits the rapid transmission of radar and infrared images from the UAV to the ground station,
ξ even at great distances.
ξ The intelligent Tares drone thus features a number of advantages over comparable guided missiles
ξ – and at a fraction of the cost.

ξ It is above all in contemporary scenarios that the Tares comes into its own.
ξ Because this UAV reconnoitres its targets from a considerable standoff and
ξ – thanks to stealth technology – is virtually invisible to radar,
ξ the system features a high degree of survivability.

ξ On its maiden flight on December 20th 2004,
ξ the Tares achieved several important development milestones,
ξ successfully demonstrating not only its aerodynamic characteristics but also its imagery transmission and flight control functions.

ξ Thus far, both Germany and the United Kingdom have expressed initial interest in this intelligent combat system,
ξ seeing in it a rational supplement to the KZO drone.
ξ Capable of engaging hard and soft targets on land,
ξ the Tares would give the Bundeswehr special capabilities which do not exist in Europe at present.

ξ RDE also sees good prospects for the Tares outside of Germany:
ξ worldwide, armies are weighing various concepts for the standoff engagement of point targets.
ξ But the lack of suitable candidates means that they have so far not been able to buy comparable systems.
ξ The Tares, once it has been shown to meet the required specifications,
ξ will enjoy a considerable advantage, reaching the market well ahead of competing systems.

ξ Now, more than ten years after the start of pre-development work on the Taifun,
ξ and drawing on experience gained during foreign deployments of the Bundeswehr,
ξ the system is being modified to match the altered parameters, which will take the system to new heights.
ξ It clearly has the potential to make the Bundeswehr a leader in the domain of UAV attack systems.

Information from the other side of the hill

ξ The product of a cooperative partnership, the Carolo mini UAV can be used in multifarious missions.
ξ DSE'S partner here is a spin-off company of the Technical University of Braunschweig, Mavionics GmbH.
ξ So small that it can be launched by hand, the Carolo can provide valuable information in broken terrain at close distances.

ξ The system consists of three components: the air vehicle itself (whose main wings are mounted to the fuselage)
ξ with a T-shaped tail assembly; the ground station;
ξ and the transport case, equipped with an integrated antenna.

ξ Powered by an electric motor, the Carolo P50 features a folding propeller.
ξ Contained in its 49cm-long wings are rechargeable batteries,
ξ enabling it to remain aloft for 15 minutes.
ξ Capable of operating at altitudes of over 100 metres,
ξ it can attain a maximum speed of 65 kilometres per hour. Its payload consists of components weighing 50 grams;
ξ these can be easily exchanged for other electronic components for other missons.
ξ Made of lightweight plastic, the Carolo weighs just 530 grams, not much more than pound.

ξ On the underside of the fuselage is a camera system mounted at a 45° angle.
ξ The camera enables the transmission of colour images.
ξ The data is transmitted by a trailing antenna mounted to the tail of the aircraft.

ξ The GPS system is also contained in the fuselage.
ξ Data transmission and the data link between the UAV and the ground station is the task of a telemetry module.
ξ This enables up- and downlink data to be exchanged between the Carolo and the ground station.
ξ This way, the operator can change the route, the mission data
ξ or operating altitude of the aircraft while it is in flight.
ξ Furthermore, the current status of the system can be requested by radio at any time.

ξ Rheinmetall Defence Electronics markets the Carolo in cooperation with Mavionics.
ξ A whole of family of small UAVs is gradually taking shape,
ξ the smallest of which is the Carolo P50.
ξ In the meantime, Mavionics has completed development of the Carolo T140,
ξ a twin-engine UAV with high-set wings.
ξ Capable of carrying a payload weighing 300 grams, it can remain in the air for over 45 minutes.

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[008] ~ Diamond Aircraft

Diamond Aircraft

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[009] ~ General Atomics

»GA

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[010] ~ UAV.com

UAV.com
ξ ALTAIR, a high altitude version of Predator B, was specifically designed as an unmanned platform
ξ for both scientific and commercial research missions that require endurance, reliability and increased payload capacity.
ξ Built in partnership with NASA, ALTAIR has an 86 ft wingspan,
ξ can fly up to 52,000 ft and can remain airborne for well over 30 hours.
ξ Marked as the first remotely piloted aircraft that will meet aviation authority requirements
ξ for unmanned flights in National Air Space, ALTAIR is configured with
ξ a fault-tolerant dual-architecture flight control system and
ξ triple redundant avionics for increased reliability.
ξ To ensure responsiveness to air traffic advisements during flights in the Naional Air Space,
ξ ALTAIR also has an air traffic control relay and will have an automated collision advance system

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[011] ~ Diehl BGT Defence GmbH & Co. KG

Diehl BGT Defence GmbH & Co. KG

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[012] ~ TESTEM GmbH

TESTEM GmbH
ξ miniaturized Transmitter (VHF, UHF, S-Band, up to 2W in minimal space)
ξ one- and multichannel systems, for all signal types
ξ programmable and digital temperature compensated
ξ direct sensor connection
ξ shock proof design for harsh environments
ξ flexible power supply concept (Battery, inductive, etc.)

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[001]~ KZO - Surveillance, Reconnaissance and Localization UAV [002]~ TARES (TAIFUN) – Combat Air Vehicle System [003]~ Electronic Warfare Support/Attack	[004]~ MALE / HALE UAV System [005]~ System Configurations [006]~ DA42 OPALE	[007]~ Rheinmetall [008]~ Diamond Aircraft [009]~ General Atomics
[010]~ UAV.com [011]~ Diehl BGT Defence GmbH & Co. KG [012]~ TESTEM GmbH	[013]~ free Ξ [014]~ free Ξ [015]~ free Ξ	[016]~ free Ξ [017]~ free Ξ [018]~ free Ξ