The United Arab Emirates air force’s unmanned air vehicle research and technology centre has nearly finished a two-year effort to develop an integrated vertical take-off and landing tactical UAV system. Production approvals are awaited for the Al Sber derivative of the Schiebel S-100 air vehicle.

The centre has also started assessing the potential for tethered aerostats to form part of the UAE’s future border surveillance system, with a single demonstration system acquired from US-based TCOM.

The aerostat has a 90kg (200lb) payload capacity and will be fitted with electro-optic and radar sensors. In operational use, the air vehicle would be elevated to an altitude of 1000-1,300ft (300-400m) and remain airborne for four to five days. Data generated by the system would be processed using the UAE’s new common UAV ground station, developed by Ucon Systems and the centre as part of the VTOL UAV technology demonstration. Ucon received its initial contracts to take part in the programme in August 2004.

The aerostat trials programme is expected to continue for at least two years and could lead to a multi-system acquisition.

Source: Flight International