Taranis Reveals Most Advanced Aircraft Built By British Engineers

Together with the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD), Taranis has revealed the most advanced aircraft ever built by British engineers. 

Taranis,made its maiden flight at an undisclosed test range on Saturday 10 August 2013, under the command of our test pilot Bob Fraser.  The demonstrator aircraft made a perfect take-off, rotation, ‘climb-out’ and landing on its 15 minute first flight.  A number of flights took place last year, of up to one hour in duration and at a variety of altitudes and speeds.  The details were revealed at a briefing held in London today.

The Taranis demonstrator is the result of one-and-a-half-million man hours of work by the UK’s leading scientists, aerodynamicists and systems engineers from 250 UK companies.

The aircraft has been designed to demonstrate the UK’s ability to create an unmanned air system which, under the control of a human operator, is capable of undertaking sustained surveillance, marking targets, gathering intelligence, deterring adversaries and carrying out strikes in hostile territory.

The findings from the aircraft's flight prove that the UK has developed a significant lead in understanding unmanned aircraft which could strike with precision over a long range whilst remaining undetected. The technological advances made through Taranis will also help the UKMOD and Royal Air Force make decisions on the future mix of manned and unmanned fast jet aircraft and how they will operate together in a safe and effective manner for the UK’s defences.

Costing £185 million and funded jointly by the UK MOD and UK industry, the Taranis demonstrator aircraft was formally unveiled in July 2010 but only a very limited number of scientists and engineers have ever been given full access to the top secret aircraft.

Philip Dunne, Minister for Defence Equipment, Support and Technology said:
"Taranis is providing vital insights that will help shape future capabilities for our Armed Forces in coming decades. Its advanced technology is testament to the UKs world leading engineering skills that keep Britain at the cutting edge of defence."

(CVS/CD)