Global InformationEADS Barracuda information
| Barracuda | |
|---|---|
| |
| Role | Reconnaissance and UCAV |
| National origin | Germany and Spain |
| Manufacturer | EADS |
| First flight | 2 April 2006 |
The EADS Barracuda was a jet powered unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), EADS, used for the role of aerial reconnaissance and also combat (like UCAV).[1] The aircraft was a joint venture between Germany and Spain.
Development of the project was stopped after the first prototype crashed at Mar Menor while approaching for landing during a test flight.[2] The program was resumed in 2008, with a second prototype being completed in November 2008. The rebuilt Barracuda underwent a series of successful flight tests in Goose Bay, Canada during July 2009,[3] followed by further flight campaigns in 2010[4] and 2012.[5]
The Barracuda's primary competition was Dassault nEUROn for strategic and defensive contracts. Both were stealthy and had a maximum air speed of around Mach 0.85. While Germany and Spain were behind the Barracuda, France, Italy, Sweden, Switzerland, Greece, and Spain as well funded the nEUROn.[6] It had an operating ceiling of around 20,000 ft (6,096 m) and carried a maximum payload of 300 kg.[7]
It was retired after six test campaigns.
- ^ UAV demonstrator opens up new technology perspectives for EADS Archived 2006-06-18 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ EADS Stops Barracuda UCAV Demonstrator Development Archived 2008-07-05 at the Wayback Machine, Air-attack.com, 13 September 2007
- ^ EADS press release on Barracuda flight tests in Canada, 2009[permanent dead link]
- ^ Cassidian Barracuda page Archived 2013-01-19 at archive.today
- ^ Cassidian press release on 2012 Barracuda flight campaign Archived 2012-08-23 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
:2was invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ "Barracuda Demonstrator Unmanned Air Vehicle Developed by EADS Military Air Systems - Army Technology". www.army-technology.com. Retrieved 2020-11-17.