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EADS Talarion

2018 MODERN AIRCRAFT DRONE TECHNOLOGY

EADS Talarion Story

In the face of growing demand for more capable surveillance-oriented unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to fly in unchallenged airspace, the French/Netherlands EADS has launched a mid-altitude long-endurance drone Talarion Ready to work (male). Designed to compete with Northrop Grumman's RQ-4 Global Hawk jet engine and similar types. A model was shown at the 2009 Paris Air Show, although the product has since found few buyers and supporters - with the exception of Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI), which has successfully sold to the Turks and actively evaluated its TAI" Anka MALE UAV At the time of writing (December 2013), the Army owns the aircraft. The Talarion's maiden flight is tentatively scheduled for sometime in 2015, with an official launch scheduled for 2018.

At one point, the plan was also supported by Italian concern Alenia, but that didn't bring any results. The talarion takes its name from the mythical winged sandals worn by the Greek god Hermes.

According to a model featured at the 2009 Paris Air Show, the Talarion is shaped no differently than the rival Global Hawk. The fuselage has a streamlined shape with a bulbous nose assembly that houses the avionics. The payload is kept in the abdomen. The wings are straight appendages attached to the middle of the sides of the fuselage.

The engine is embedded in the rear of the fuselage and introduced forward and through the bottom of the single vertical tail through top-mounted air intakes. At the rear there are two low-mounted spoilers. The Talarion will be powered by an unknown make and model of turbofan engine, although the installation will provide the necessary thrust at the desired operating altitude. Reports suggest that the Talarion may actually have two engines instead of one in the Global Hawk, a Rolls-Royce-branded turbofan.

Its wingspan is said to be 92 feet.

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Talarion will remain unarmed (like the Global Hawk) and act in an intelligence gathering role - vital in any war.

For now, the program has not developed as expected, mainly due to the lack of interest even among European powers. The Talarion may still be competing in several upcoming drone projects, but its future remains in doubt -- especially given the large number of drones that will hit the market in the next few years.