Airbus achieves Eurodrone’s preliminary design review

The Eurodrone program successfully performed the preliminary design review (PDR). Led by Airbus Defence and Space as prime contractor, this major program milestone has been completed with the Organization for Joint Armament Cooperation (OCCAR) and representatives of the four customer nations (France, Germany, Italy, and Spain) in the presence of the three major sub-contractors: Airbus Defence and Space Spain, Dassault Aviation, and Leonardo.

The PDR proves the initial design of the aircraft has consistently matured, paving the way to proceed with the detailed design. Supported by and based on the knowledge already gathered, the Eurodrone program enters a new phase to reach the critical design review (CDR), representing the final step and closure of architecture and system design.

Provided with innovative technology and designed to become a main pillar of a future combat air system, the Eurodrone will facilitate international conflict prevention and crisis management in the context of intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition and reconnaissance (ISTAR) missions. https://www.airbus.com/en

German TP RPAS makes maiden flight over Germany

The German Heron TP (GHTP), produced by UAV PEO at the Directorate of Defense, Research and Development (DDR&D) at the Israeli Ministry of Defense (IMoD) and Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), has flown in German airspace for the first time. The remotely piloted aircraft system (RPAS) was customized for the German Ministry of Defence, as part of a joint venture between IAI, IMoD’s DDR&D, and Airbus. The cooperation between them and the German Armed Forces ensured development of an RPAS exhibiting advanced performance and operational readiness while also providing the German Armed Forces with additional capabilities. The event was an important step toward reaching full operational capability. https://www.airbus.com/en

Echodyne EchoFlight radar integrated into AATI’s BVLOS unmanned aircraft

Echodyne’s EchoFlight radar will be integrated into the American Aerospace Technologies Inc. (AATI) AiRanger aircraft, which obtained a waiver from the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for commercial Beyond Visual Line-of-Sight (BVLOS) flight operations. The waiver permits AATI to use the onboard detect-and-avoid (DAA) system for adhering to aircraft right-of-way rules during BVLOS operations, making the AiRanger the first uncrewed aircraft system (UAS) to meet industry consensus standards for the DAA system. https://www.echodyne.com

Joby partners with Mukamalah Aviation

Joby Aviation Inc. signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Mukamalah, a subsidiary of Saudi Aramco, to introduce Joby’s aircraft to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The MoU empowers the parties to work together to engage with key aviation stakeholders, including The Saudi General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA), to expedite Joby’s entry into the Saudi Arabia market, leading to the direct purchase of Joby aircraft to be used in Mukamalah’s operations.

The direct sale of aircraft to business customers such as Mukamalah and government partners such as the U.S. Department of Defense forms one pillar of Joby’s commercialization strategy, alongside the direct operation of Joby aircraft in core markets such as the United States and the United Arab Emirates, and partnered operations in other markets. https://www.jobyaviation.com; https://www.mukamalah.com