Fri, May 22, 2015
Second Version Of Unmanned Aircraft Integration Project
The European Defense Agency and European Space Agency have launched the second version of their unmanned aircraft integration project to support the use of UAS in non-segregated airspace.
The DeSIRE II demonstration, which stands for Demonstration of Satellites enabling the Insertion of RPAS in Europe, which kicked off April 9, is expected to run for 18 months with a total cost of $2.9 million.
The program — described by speakers at AUVSI’s Unmanned Systems Europe earlier this year — will use Piaggio Aero’s P.1HH HammerHead UAS as a flying testbed for new capabilities using UAS including environmental monitoring, maritime surveillance, crisis management and other missions. The program will also test and demonstrate satellite command and control links.
Telespazio, a satellite communications company, will act as the prime contractor and systems integrator. The results from DeSIRE II will help define future satellite-based command and control datalinks, according to the EDA.
DeSIRE II follows on the original DeSIRE, also a joint EDA-ESA program led by Spain’s Indra company from 2011 to 2013. That project culminated in a series of flight demonstrations of a UAS successfully using a satellite link to help it safely share the sky with other aircraft.
ESA will invest $1.34 million in the project, EDA will chip in €600,000 (approx. $668,730) and the remaining €800,000 (approx. $891,640) will come from the participating industrial consortium, which includes leader Telespazio as well as e-GEOS, Selex ES, Piaggio Aero, ViaSat, Skyguide and AEdel Aerospace GmbH.
(Image provided by AUVSI. Piaggio Aero's P.1HH HammerHead UAS with maximum gross takeoff weight of 13,550 pounds)
More News
From 2023 (YouTube Version): Legacy of a Titan Robert (Bob) Anderson Hoover was a fighter pilot, test pilot, flight instructor, and air show superstar. More so, Bob Hoover was an i>[...]
Get The Latest in Aviation News NOW on Instagram Are you on Instagram yet? It's been around for a few years, quietly picking up traction mostly thanks to everybody's new obsession >[...]
Aero Linx: B-52H Stratofortress The B-52H Stratofortress is a long-range, heavy bomber that can perform a variety of missions. The bomber is capable of flying at high subsonic spee>[...]
Altimeter Setting The barometric pressure reading used to adjust a pressure altimeter for variations in existing atmospheric pressure or to the standard altimeter setting (29.92).>[...]
"Knowing that we play an active part in bettering people's lives is extremely rewarding. My team and I are very thankful for the opportunity to be here and to help in any way we ca>[...]