Low Observable UAV Testbed Archives - The Aviation Geek Club

Lessons learned from the LOUT will be available for potential adaptation during a long-term evolution activity on the Eurofighter Typhoon and on a proposed French-German-Spanish FCAS development On Nov 4 2019 at Manching Airbus Defence amp Space has revealed LO UAV testbed LOUT a more than decade-long research and demonstration effort into very low observable LO technologies conducted as a classified effort for the German defence ministry Mario Hertzog Airbus future combat air system FCAS programme manager explained that the company began initial concept work in 2007 A contract to refine configuration and material choices was awarded in 2010 and the production of a diamond planform demonstrator was completed in 2014 According to Flight Global the chosen configuration used for aerodynamic and anechoic chamber testing since 2014 is described as a 4t-class vehicle and has a roughly 12m 39 3ft wingspan and similar length The subsonic design would use a conventional engine concealed behind a diverterless inlet and has twin intakes blended into its upper fuselage A cockpit transparency and sensor apertures also formed part of the testing The aircraft s exhaust nozzle also is shielded from beneath Such a vehicle would be optimised for use against ground-based air-defence systems Hertzog pointed out He also added that this mission requirement also led the company to hone LO techniques for the vehicle s landing gear doors and centerline internal weapons bay Focus areas have included testing LO materials including a radar absorbent structure for engine intake ducts and on assessing radar frequency and infrared signature performance Modelling work has also been conducted to analyse the likely acoustic characteristics of such a design Even though Airbus has completed contracted work on LOUT the company says additional activities could be conducted Hertzog did not reveal if Berlin could seek a flight-test campaign with such a system However lessons learned from the LOUT programme will be available for potential adaptation during a long-term evolution activity on the Eurofighter Typhoon and on a proposed French-German-Spanish FCAS development Hertzog says Stealth is and will remain an enabler for survivability he notes Photo credit Airbus

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Low Observable UAV Testbed

Airbus Unveils Germany’s Classified Low Observable UAV Testbed (LOUT)