Article Posted on : - Dec 03, 2012

The nEUROn European UCAV technology demonstrator taking off at the Dassault Aviation Istres Flight center (France). Photo: Dassault Aviation.

PARIS, FRANCE (BNS): Europe's unmanned combat air vehicle (UCAV) stealth technology demonstrator, nEUROn successfully completed its maiden flight from the Dassault Aviation company's flight test base in Istres, France, on December 1 in collaboration with the flight test personnel of the French DGA defence procurement agency who controlled the air space during the flight test.

With a length of 10 meters, a wingspan of 12.5 meters and an empty weight of 5 tonnes, the aircraft is powered by a Rolls-Royce Turbomeca "Adour" engine, as reported by Dassault Aviation.

"It inaugurates the next generation of combat aircraft, whether piloted or not, with the ambition of preserving European autonomy in this field," the French defence ministry said in a statement.

The aircraft will continue to undergo testing in France until 2014, at which time it will be sent to Vidsel in Sweden for a series of operational trials. It will then go to the Perdasdefogu range (Italy) for further tests, in particular firing and stealth measurements.

The nEUROn programme was developed with Dassault, Italy's Alenia Aermacchi, Sweden's Saab, Spain's EADS-CASA, Greece's HAI, Switzerland's RUAG and France's Thales.