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4.3 European UCAV research and development 
 
Currently, there are no UCAVs (including armed UAVs) either in service or in production in EU 
countries26. However, there is an interest to acquire armed UAVs rather soon. The UK has 
shown interest in the US Predator-B armed UAV, which is currently operating in Iraq and 
Afghanistan (reportedly with some UK personnel involved). The only EU-developed armed 
UAV currently under consideration is a French feasibility study ordered from Sagem for an 
armed version of the Sperwer-B UAV27. Plans for acquisitions of real UCAVs are still very 
vague. EU armed forces are not yet clear if and how such real UCAVs fit into their national 
doctrines. However, several EU governments are sponsoring technology demonstrator 
programmes to develop the UCAV concept into a working system. All current UCAV 
programmes are technology demonstrator programmes aimed at testing – rather than producing - 
an operational UCAV. Different from UAV programmes, the more complex and expensive 
UCAV programmes are dependent on financing by governments.  
 
There are now several separate ongoing UCAV R&D programmes. France, Italy, Spain, 
Sweden, Greece, (Belgium may join) and non-EU Switzerland are working on the Neuron 
project: a mainly a French initiative that includes a mix of government and industry funding. 
The French company Dassault leads the project28, but non-French expertise has been sought 
from the start. The French government has budgeted €300m for the programme. Finmeccanica’s 
subsidiary Alenia is the largest non-French industrial partner and Memoranda of Understanding 
were signed at the end of 2005 with Sweden (for €75m, including €15m from Saab) and Spain 
(€35.5 million) for the period 2007-201229. The Neuron is a technology demonstrator and 
should fly around 201030. Its aim is to test concept and technologies for operational UCAVs that 
may replace the current generation of manned combat aircraft by around 2025-203
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The UK has launched two programmes, Taranis and Corax (Raven). BAe Systems, which has 
financed UAV/UCAV development for the past decade, has been appointed to lead a UK 
industrial team for the UK-government funded £124m (€185m) Taranis development in 2006. 
Taranis is a long range UCAV, the size of a small combat aircraft, powered by a full size 
turbofan and will have intercontinental range32. Taranis builds on the experiences of the BAe-
developed Kestrel and Corax UAVs. Currently, Taranis is designated a demonstrator 
 
26 Spain is reported to have acquired the Harpy, a ‘lethal drone’ produced by IAI. While very much like a UAV 
(including the fact that it looks like one, is slow and is designed to loiter for hours before attacking), it is a one-way 
system and therefore classified here as a missile. Rheinmetall is developing the similar Taifun. 
27 The Sperwer-B is an enlarged version of the Sperwer, but would not be able to carry an armament heavier than 
two small missiles. ‘Enhanced Sperwer B with new operational capabilities’, Asian Defence Journal, July-August 
2006, p.54. Rheinmetall (Germany) has developed the Taifun and TARES, which they label as ‘combat UAV’. 
These operate as normal UAVs but can be also be used to attack targets in a ‘suicide’ mission. They do not carry 
any armament. ‘Taifun attack drone’, Defence Update, Vol. 2, 2005, URL http://www.defense-
update.com/products/t/taifun.htm, and Rheinmetall website, URL http://www.rheinmetall-
detec.de/index.php?fid=1600&lang=3&pdb=1 
28 Dassault has developed several UAV technology demonstrators (Petit Duc, Moyen Duc, Grand Duc, AVE). 
Biass, E. and Braybrook, R., ‘The UAV as sensor platform – from Pioneer to Global Hawk’, Armada International, 
Oct/Nov. 2001, p. 3. 
29 Officially the name is nEUROn. Alenia website, URL < http://www.alenia-aeronautica.it/Products/neuron.asp>; 
US Department of Commerce, ‘France to lead UAV development in Europe’, STAT-USA 15 July 2004, URL 
http://strategis.ic.gc.ca/epic/site/imr-ri.nsf/en/gr125937e.html; ‘Madrid dans l’UCAV’, Air & Cosmos, 6 January 
2006, p.24. 
30 Aviation Week & Space Technology, 26 Sep. 2005, p. 13. 
31 US Department of Commerce, ‘France to lead UAV development in Europe’, STAT-USA 15 July 2004, URL 
http://strategis.ic.gc.ca/epic/site/imr-ri.nsf/en/gr125937e.html. 
32 ‘Taranis unmanned combat air vehicle (UCAV) demonstrator, United Kingdom’, Air Force Technology, URL 
http://www.airforce-technology.com/projects/tanaris/. 
 
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