Continuing with the news about Dassault Aviation's obsession with developing the Rafale F5 or Super Rafale variant, it is interesting to note that the point of the Rafale F5 is the ability of the twin engine fighter jet to carry out Manned-Unmanned Teaming (MUM-T) scenarios by presenting loyal wingman drones to Rafale .
As explained in the previous article, Dassault Aviation will optimize the results of the development of combat drones (UCAV) that have been carried out so far, namely in the Dassault nEUROn experimental project. Although the name nEUROn sounds foreign, at first glance, nEUROn is very similar to the stealth design reconnaissance drone made in the United States, the RQ-170 Sentinel.
But you need to know, even though nEUROn is produced by France (Dassault Aviation), but actually nEUROn is a multi-national project. Apart from France, the countries involved in the nEUROn project include Greece, Italy, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland.
The aim of the nEUROn design is to create an autonomous drone that has stealth capabilities and can function in a combat zone against medium to high threats. In addition, the nEUROn project provides European companies with experience designing and building high-end UCAVs and related technologies.
The nEUROn development, initially planned by Dassault as “AVE Grand Duc”, grew into a European partnership including Sweden Saab AB, EAB Greece, Swiss RUAG Aerospace, Spanish EADS CASA and Italian Alenia (now Leonardo-Finmeccanica). with Dassault as prime contractor.
As a “technology demonstrator”, only one vehicle will be produced to explore new operational concepts for next-generation stealth autonomous combat drones to be produced after 2020. This is supported by statements that industry partners are looking to invest more in the technology. development, rather than manufacture of hardware and weapons, despite the risk of losing a single prototype.
nEUROn test flights were planned in France, Sweden and Italy in early 2010, but were postponed. Only then, nEUROn's inaugural flight was carried out on December 1, 2012 in France. It debuted in public, first shown at the Paris AirShow 2014, but unfortunately nEUROn was not 'allowed' to fly because European civil aviation authorities were reluctant to allow drones to fly out of closed airspace.
Flight trials in France to unveil its flight envelope and evaluate stealth characteristics were successfully completed in March 2015. These tests were followed by sensor evaluation trials in Italy, which were completed on 25 August 2015. The final part of flight trials took place in Sweden, which at that time scheduled for a direct launch test of the weapon.
In July 2016, extensive detection and stealth character tests were conducted with nEUROn against the aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle carrier group. In that scenario, nEUROn would penetrate a carrier defense area to test its stealth capabilities and the carrier group's capacity to detect it.
From the specifications, the nEUROn has a length of 9.5 meters and a wingspan of 12.5 meters. This stealth combat drone has an empty weight of 4.9 tonnes and a maximum takeoff weight of 7 tonnes. nEUROn is powered by a single engine – Rolls-Royce or Turboméca Adour.
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nEUROn is capable of reaching a maximum speed of 980 km per hour and flying up to an altitude of 14,000 meters. For weapons, placed in the weapon bay for two guided bomb units, each weighing 230 kg.
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