International Institute for Strategic Studies Comments European UAS Programmes
France and Britain recently announced they would be postponing a decision on a joint development project for next-generation unmanned aerial vehicles for 12-18 months to consider their options. Douglas Barrie, senior fellow for military aerospace at the International Institute for Strategic Studies, discussed European UAS programmes with the editors of World Politics Review:
WPR: What is the current state of unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) drone programmes in Europe, in terms of deployed models and production capacity?
Douglas Barrie: Recent military conflicts have underscored the utility of unmanned aerial vehicles across a whole range of classes and roles for European militaries. The U.K., for example, deployed its Phoenix artillery-spotting UAV during the Iraq War, with the system utilized as an ad hoc intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) asset. Though much maligned -- it was years late in entering service -- the use of the Phoenix helped refine the British army's thinking on tactical systems and fed through into projects such as the Watchkeeper, which is expected to enter service later this year. The Royal Air Force, meanwhile, has operated the MQ-1 and MQ-9 Reaper, with the aim of acquiring a total of 10 of the latter from the U.S. Italy is also a Predator and Reaper operator, while France uses the Israeli Heron for its Harfang system, although it is considering a purchase of Reapers or Predators to fill current operational gaps in armed drones. An expanded UAV portfolio, particularly in medium and large systems, will certainly be a growing element of European aerospace manufacturers' offerings, with the question being how soon they will be able to meet demand.
WPR: What are the current military needs in terms of European operational capabilities?
Douglas Barrie: In general, Europe's most pressing need is for additional ISR capacity, as made apparent by its reliance on predominantly U.S. assets for Libya. The continent's main military powers have yet to acquire adequate numbers of medium-altitude long-endurance (MALE) and strategic ISR UAVs. There is also insufficiency in terms of armed UAVs, a capability that may overlap with the ISR role, such as in the U.K.'s Combat ISTAR -- intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition and reconnaissance -- concept.
WPR: What are some of the alternatives currently being considered, and what are the respective advantages and drawbacks?
Barrie: In the MALE arena, there are two emerging industrial camps vying to meet European defence requirements. The U.K.'s BAE Systems and France's Dassault have teamed up to pursue a potential joint purchase by London and Paris. EADS, meanwhile, is continuing to push its Talarion concept as an alternative for the same role.
The potential for an Anglo-French programme is in part the result of a broader defence cooperation treaty between Europe's two main military powers announced in November 2010. The BAE-Dassault collaboration will build on BAE's Mantis technology-demonstrator project.
The outcome of the rival MALE efforts may have a broader significance in helping to shape Europe's unmanned combat air vehicle (UCAV) aspirations. BAE is leading a consortium developing the U.K.'s Taranis UCAV demonstrator, while Dassault is heading a similar multinational effort known as Neuron. Were the Anglo-French MALE programme to come to fruition successfully, then this could pave the way for a cooperative project.
Source: World Politics Review
