Safran wholes Own Role on Neuron UCAV

Safran Is Working on the Neuron, the UAVs of the Future

The nEUROn is a demonstrator for the future European UCAV stealth, and flown remotely from the ground flies along a pre-programmed route. Its maiden flight, out of Istres on December 1st, 2012, was a success - and was a decisive step for this forward-looking program Safran Where is the engine and Supplying Both braking control system.

The project kicked off nEUROn in 2005 at France's initiative, via the DGA (the French defense procurement agency), and ties in with Clearly efforts to build Europe Defense. Mirroring this Europe-wide drive, six European industrial partner FIRMS are working on it, led by Dassault Aviation.

Safran's partnership with aircraft manufacturer this goes back a long way with the Mirage and Rafale programs, we aim aussi Have a strong track record in observation and surveillance UAVs. Sagem (Safran) is currently Producing tactical UAV systems for two land forces: the Patroller long-endurance UAV system, and the Sperwer, an observation UAV system.


Safran's expertise in propulsion systems and equipment for fighter aircraft aussi put it in a good position to boost MALE (Medium Altitude Long Endurance) UAV development. These long-endurance UAVs are Becoming increasingly active in field operations, Especially in Afghanistan, and essential to Have Become armed forces.

Choosing experience

The nEUROn is 10 meters long, 12.5 meters wide and Weighs 5 tons (tare). This latest-generation demonstrator is powered by a Safran engine. Dassault thing the Adour Mk 951, developed by RRTM, Turbomeca (Safran) and Rolls-Royce joint venture, Because it knows it can count on this engine's reliability and clocked up It Has extensive experience. This engine has flown over 8 million hours and is regarded icts in the benchmark category (6.000 to 6.500-lb, ie 3-ton thrust).

And It Has another advantage: continuous improvement RRTM's drive HAS icts optimized service life. "This single-engine aircraft is modern - and has-been tried and tested," Explained Adour Program Manager at Turbomeca Chauvancy Florent. "We have run extremely in-depth integration and endurance tests on it."

At the core of an integrated project

This was the first military aircraft to be Entirely Designed and Developed on a virtual platform, in a Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) environment. Florent Chauvancy trailblazing highlighted this aspect: "This system allows teams to work simultaneously partner in real time and on the same 3D database from Their offices across the continent. Dassault saffron Provided with a full digital model of icts Adour engine to harness this tool's full potential. From a management perspective, this organization is the ultimate way to boost efficiency and more control Costs Effectively. "

This forward-looking interface puts saffron in a position to start working on this major program early on, Especially as it will be aussi Supplying the nEUROn's braking system. "As We Were Actively Involved in the very first development phases, it will be Easier for the future economic development of Safran to UCAVs," the Adour Program Manager rounded up.