The meeting in Brussels on 6 July, organised by the Agency's Research & Technology Directorate, was a major milestone in the EDA's work on LE-UAVs, one of its four flagship programmes for 2005.

The two technology areas - related to "Sense & Avoid technologies" and "Digital data links (LOS & BLOS: line of sight and beyond line of sight)" - were selected by national experts from EU Member States on the basis of EDA proposals, as covering critical gaps in the capabilities needed for long-endurance UAVs in a wider ISTAR architecture. The formal process for awarding the contracts is due to begin soon.

Studies in these two areas will be funded from the EDA's 2005 budget, but the more than 10 other critical technology areas identified with national experts may be addressed by "ad-hoc" co-operation projects at the initiative of some of the 24 EU Member States who participate in the Agency, by future EDA-funded studies, or under industry initiatives.

"This is a very important step in our work on LE-UAVs," said Bertrand de Cordoue, EDA Director for R&T. "These two studies will represent also a good opportunity to test the EDA's contracting capacity for future R&T projects."

Related Links
European Defence Agency
SpaceDaily
Search SpaceDaily
Subscribe To SpaceDaily Express