UAVs join the jet set

An innovative jet-powered UAV developed by

has completed its first fully autonomous flight tests in

. The Barracuda experimental aircraft completed a 20- minute pre-programmed course without any control from the ground, and has paved the way for a further series of tests.

According to EADS, the Barracuda demonstrator, which has been hailed as a 'technological breakthrough', contains many technical innovations alongside some commercial off-the-shelf components. The entire structure, including the wings, is made from carbon-fibre composites on the basis of a new patent filed by EADS. It is described as an 'electric airborne system' because it uses electro-mechanical actuators instead of conventional hydraulic components.

The experimental system is 8m long, with a wingspan of more than 7m and a maximum take-off weight of just over three tonnes. It is fitted with a Pratt & Whitney jet turbine that delivers 14kN thrust.

The demonstrator is designed to be a user-friendly technology platform for testing technological payloads such as the integration of a suite of sensors. These will eventually include electro-optical and infrared sensors, laser target designators, an emitter locator system that picks up radio-magnetic signals and an advanced synthetic aperture radar system.