Article Posted on : - Feb 05, 2009

BAE Systems HERTI on wet runway. Image from official site

BANGALORE (PTI): Mantis, a new autonomous unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) being developed by BAE Systems, would be making its international debut at the Aero India 2009, starting here on February 11.

A full size 'Mantis' and 'Herti' (another UAV) would be displayed outside the BAE Systems pavilion. The Mantis UAV advanced concept technology demonstrator programme brings together technologies, capabilities and systems that will demonstrate the potential of a large unmanned autonomous aircraft, BAE Systems said in a release.

The company will have its biggest ever presence at Aero India, an event it has attended every year since its inception.

The company is taking a large stand alone pavilion, not a booth inside the halls. Its theme for the event is Autonomy -- specifically autonomous air vehicles.

Inside the pavilion, BAE Systems would be displaying products from across its aerospace capabilities, including Typhoon and Hawk, but also some products not displayed in India before such as special seating for helicopters that protect aircrew for spinal injuries in crashes and hard landing.