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I copied this article from dassaults website i thought you would find it interesting. I put some more pictures of it at the bottom.
Petit Duc Leads To Neuron
On July 18, 2000, Dassault Aviation's Petit Duc (pronounced "duke") "duke") was the first stealth UAV to fly in Europe. The Petit Duc is what's termed a "proof-of-concept" vehicle, meaning that it is the primary basis for research and future planning in the UAV field. The Dassault concept focuses on a step-by-step approach, tackling cost efficiency, speed, and stealth with each stage of development.
Designed and built with a rapid prototyping to cost methodology, this UAV has been joined by a second member of the family, the AVE-C, designed along the same lines to experiment with unstable yaw aircraft control methods.
The expertise gained through these programs led to Dassault's being selected as the prime contractor for Europe's UCAV demonstrator, the Neuron, which will fly in 2009. The Neuron project will develop new technologies and rules that will be used to develop combat aircraft (manned and unmanned) in the future. It will open a wide range of possibilities including a team of UCAVs flying in concert with Rafale fighters.
Neuron will be less like a UCAV and more like an unmanned fly-by-wire full-fledged combat aircraft. It'll have the ability to carry two laser guided 550 pound (250 kilo) bombs in its weapon's bay and will almost be as large as a Mirage 2000 or a small Falcon.
Neuron Thinks Globally
Neuron is, by far, Dassault's largest program in the unmanned systems field. Ultimately, mastery of the system will involve the control of mixed-aircraft cooperative flight missions that include real air-to-surface weaponry. The prototype will have to meet a number of objectives in order to be proclaimed a success. Part of that process will include its ability to utilize stealth to reach its target and to demonstrate an air-to-surface attack mission as part of a larger system of tactical networks.
Neuron will implement all the command, control, communication, and information techniques (C4I) that air combat systems will require in future Air-Land Operational theaters. It will validate specific technologies using a reliable, modular avionics system featuring highly advanced software.
In taking the initiative with this demonstrator, France hopes to provide European design and engineering firms with a project that will help expand their strategic skills in the near-term. Neuron is a truly European program, open to international cooperation. Half of the workload, in monetary terms, is destined for outsourcing to foreign companies. It's an innovative way of organizing a program of this caliber, and is certain to create a positive atmosphere of cooperation and agreement. Sweden, Italy, Switzerland, Greece, Spain and Belgium have joined the program.
Neuron will provide Europe's aviation industry with an opportunity to further develop its capabilities in the field of unmanned aerial vehicles, hone its skills on the next generation of combat aircraft, and gain experience in the management of ambitious programs of international cooperation.
Network-Centric Cooperation
UAVs can't operate alone. They need the guidance and maintenance of skilled teams of pilots and technicians. "We are working on the interoperability of networked communications, including radar, airplanes, satellites, UCAVs, etc.," says Jacques Louis, Dassault Aviation's Assistant Director for Planning. "There are challenges involved in controlling flight between a Rafale-UCAV fleet, including other air traffic, collision-avoidance and other such issues."
Partnering for Advancement
The European Aeronautic Defense & Space Company (EADS) is the largest aerospace company in Europe, and the second largest worldwide. EADS is teaming with Dassault Aviation on the EuroMALE program, for which Dassault Aviation is responsible for the air segment. EuroMALE is a reconnaissance drone designed to provide European air forces with all-weather, round-the-clock battlefield surveillance and ground target recognition system capabilities. In addition, EuroMALE will designate ground targets, both fixed and mobile, and perform radar monitoring and jamming. The system will be able to transmit intelligence to interoperable European command and control systems via satellite links.
Dassault Aviation has also teamed up with Thales and Elbit Systems on an experimental UAV program for the Navy. DELE, which stands for Long-Endurance On-Board Drone, should be deployed directly from Navy ships, with the ability to perform maritime surveillance and coastal missions.
http://www.dassaultfalcon.com/content/imagecontent.jsp?DESCRIPTION=Falconer%2027%20-%20Remote_2
"This is not a new field for us," says Dassault Aviation Chairman and CEO, Charles Edelstenne. "It's a continuation, a natural evolution of our unique experience as architects of complex airborne systems. Our experience enables us to offer the world our expertise, innovative solutions, and a pragmatic approach to cooperation."
Petit Duc Leads To Neuron
On July 18, 2000, Dassault Aviation's Petit Duc (pronounced "duke") "duke") was the first stealth UAV to fly in Europe. The Petit Duc is what's termed a "proof-of-concept" vehicle, meaning that it is the primary basis for research and future planning in the UAV field. The Dassault concept focuses on a step-by-step approach, tackling cost efficiency, speed, and stealth with each stage of development.
Designed and built with a rapid prototyping to cost methodology, this UAV has been joined by a second member of the family, the AVE-C, designed along the same lines to experiment with unstable yaw aircraft control methods.
The expertise gained through these programs led to Dassault's being selected as the prime contractor for Europe's UCAV demonstrator, the Neuron, which will fly in 2009. The Neuron project will develop new technologies and rules that will be used to develop combat aircraft (manned and unmanned) in the future. It will open a wide range of possibilities including a team of UCAVs flying in concert with Rafale fighters.
Neuron will be less like a UCAV and more like an unmanned fly-by-wire full-fledged combat aircraft. It'll have the ability to carry two laser guided 550 pound (250 kilo) bombs in its weapon's bay and will almost be as large as a Mirage 2000 or a small Falcon.
Neuron Thinks Globally
Neuron is, by far, Dassault's largest program in the unmanned systems field. Ultimately, mastery of the system will involve the control of mixed-aircraft cooperative flight missions that include real air-to-surface weaponry. The prototype will have to meet a number of objectives in order to be proclaimed a success. Part of that process will include its ability to utilize stealth to reach its target and to demonstrate an air-to-surface attack mission as part of a larger system of tactical networks.
Neuron will implement all the command, control, communication, and information techniques (C4I) that air combat systems will require in future Air-Land Operational theaters. It will validate specific technologies using a reliable, modular avionics system featuring highly advanced software.
In taking the initiative with this demonstrator, France hopes to provide European design and engineering firms with a project that will help expand their strategic skills in the near-term. Neuron is a truly European program, open to international cooperation. Half of the workload, in monetary terms, is destined for outsourcing to foreign companies. It's an innovative way of organizing a program of this caliber, and is certain to create a positive atmosphere of cooperation and agreement. Sweden, Italy, Switzerland, Greece, Spain and Belgium have joined the program.
Neuron will provide Europe's aviation industry with an opportunity to further develop its capabilities in the field of unmanned aerial vehicles, hone its skills on the next generation of combat aircraft, and gain experience in the management of ambitious programs of international cooperation.
Network-Centric Cooperation
UAVs can't operate alone. They need the guidance and maintenance of skilled teams of pilots and technicians. "We are working on the interoperability of networked communications, including radar, airplanes, satellites, UCAVs, etc.," says Jacques Louis, Dassault Aviation's Assistant Director for Planning. "There are challenges involved in controlling flight between a Rafale-UCAV fleet, including other air traffic, collision-avoidance and other such issues."
Partnering for Advancement
The European Aeronautic Defense & Space Company (EADS) is the largest aerospace company in Europe, and the second largest worldwide. EADS is teaming with Dassault Aviation on the EuroMALE program, for which Dassault Aviation is responsible for the air segment. EuroMALE is a reconnaissance drone designed to provide European air forces with all-weather, round-the-clock battlefield surveillance and ground target recognition system capabilities. In addition, EuroMALE will designate ground targets, both fixed and mobile, and perform radar monitoring and jamming. The system will be able to transmit intelligence to interoperable European command and control systems via satellite links.
Dassault Aviation has also teamed up with Thales and Elbit Systems on an experimental UAV program for the Navy. DELE, which stands for Long-Endurance On-Board Drone, should be deployed directly from Navy ships, with the ability to perform maritime surveillance and coastal missions.
http://www.dassaultfalcon.com/content/imagecontent.jsp?DESCRIPTION=Falconer%2027%20-%20Remote_2
"This is not a new field for us," says Dassault Aviation Chairman and CEO, Charles Edelstenne. "It's a continuation, a natural evolution of our unique experience as architects of complex airborne systems. Our experience enables us to offer the world our expertise, innovative solutions, and a pragmatic approach to cooperation."
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