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Taranis

Taranis first flight
Taranis
Taranis is an unmanned combat aircraft system advanced technology demonstrator programme
Taranis in flight
  • Overview
  • Downloads
  • News

About Taranis

Taranis first flight video footage

Named after the Celtic god of thunder, the Taranis concept aircraft represents the pinnacle of UK engineering and aeronautical design.

The Taranis demonstrator is the result of one-and-a-half-million man hours of work by the UK’s leading scientists, aerodynamicists and systems engineers from 250 UK companies.

Controlled by a human operator

Bob Fraser, Commander for Taranis first flight

The aircraft was designed to demonstrate the UK’s ability to create an unmanned air system which, under the control of a human operator, is capable of undertaking sustained surveillance, marking targets, gathering intelligence, deterring adversaries and carrying out strikes in hostile territory.

Technological advances

Taranis in flight

The findings from the aircraft’s test flights show that the UK has developed a significant lead in understanding unmanned aircraft which could strike with precision over a long range whilst remaining undetected.

The technological advances made through Taranis will also help the UKMOD and Royal Air Force make decisions on the future mix of manned and unmanned fast jet aircraft and how they will operate together in a safe and effective manner for the UK’s defences.

The story so far

Taranis during trials at Warton

Costing £185 million and funded jointly by the UK MOD and UK industry, the Taranis demonstrator aircraft was formally unveiled in July 2010.

Initial ‘power-up’ or ground testing commenced later in 2010 at BAE Systems’ military aircraft factory in Warton, Lancashire followed by a comprehensive and highly detailed programme of pre-first flight milestones. These included unmanned pilot training, radar cross section measurements, ground station system integration and, in April 2013 taxi trials on the runway at Warton.

Taranis has now undergone a series of succesful flight trials and the team continues to develop the aircrafts capability.

Team Taranis

Team Taranis logo

About the size of a BAE Systems Hawk aircraft - Taranis has been designed and built by BAE Systems, Rolls-Royce, the Systems division of GE Aviation (formerly Smiths Aerospace) and QinetiQ working alongside UK MOD military staff and scientists. In addition to prime contracting the project, BAE Systems led on many elements of the Taranis technology demonstrator, including the low observability, systems integration, control infrastructure and full autonomy elements (in partnership with QinetiQ).

In addition to the existing industry partners, the project also works with a significant number of other UK suppliers who provide supporting technology and components.

 
  • Taranis - looking to the future

    Download
  • BAE Systems and QinetiQ have signed a framework agreement which will see both parties collaborate in the area of autonomous uncrewed air systems (UAS) and mission management systems.

    BAE Systems and QinetiQ collaborate on autonomous uncrewed air systems

    BAE Systems and QinetiQ have signed a framework agreement which will see both parties collaborate in the area of autonomous uncrewed air systems (UAS) and mission management systems.
    12 Sep 2023
  • Global Combat Air Programme

    Global Combat Air Programme industry partners agree next steps on collaboration to deliver next generation combat aircraft

    Defence industry leaders in the UK, Japan and Italy have agreed a trilateral Collaboration Agreement to deliver the concept phase requirements of a next generation combat aircraft for the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP).
    12 Sep 2023
  • Head-on view of F-35 aircraft ready for flight

    BAE Systems successfully flight tests next-generation vehicle management computer for the F-35 Lightning II

    Flight control technology upgrade maximizes processing power for added mission capabilities and safety enhancements
    6 Sep 2023
  • PHASA-35 Stratospheric flight 2023

    PHASA-35® completes first successful stratospheric flight

    British engineers have successfully completed a stratospheric flight trial of BAE Systems’ High Altitude Pseudo Satellite (HAPS) Uncrewed Aerial System (UAS) - PHASA-35.
    14 Jul 2023
  • FalconWorks Teal logo

    BAE Systems unveils new research facility to accelerate cutting-edge combat air capability

    BAE Systems has launched a new division within its Air Sector called FalconWorks™. It is a new centre for advanced and agile research and development designed to deliver a range of cutting-edge combat air capabilities to the UK and its allies.
    10 Jul 2023
  • CGI radar on Typhoon animation

    Multi-million pound contract to equip Royal Air Force Typhoons with latest advanced radar capabilities

    The Ministry of Defence (MOD) has awarded BAE Systems a £870m contract to deliver a new radar to enhance the Royal Air Force’s (RAF) Typhoon fighter jet fleet and strengthen the aircraft’s control of the airspace whilst providing cutting-edge electronic warfare capabilities.
    4 Jul 2023
  • Image of combat air demonstrator crew escape rig

    UK industry reveals advanced technologies for next generation flying combat air demonstrator

    Engineers from the UK’s leading combat air industry partners have released more details about work taking place to deliver the UK’s first flying combat air demonstrator for a generation.
    14 Jun 2023
  • Artists impression of Tempest next generation combat aircraft over London

    New multi-million pound investment to boost technologies for the UK’s future combat aircraft

    The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has awarded a contract extension worth £656 million to BAE Systems to progress the concepting and technology of the next generation combat aircraft, known as Tempest in the UK.
    14 Apr 2023
  • People working on F-35 Lightning II

    Lockheed Martin and F-35 Joint Program Office sign £147 million contract for F-35 Lightning II fleet support

    Lockheed Martin and the F-35 Joint Program Office (JPO) have signed the Lightning Air System National Capability Enterprise (LANCE) 23-27 contract to support the United Kingdom’s F-35 fleet. The aircraft support contract is valued at approximately £147M and will ensure and enhance the UK F-35 fleet’s availability and capability to conduct combat missions worldwide.
    4 Apr 2023
  • Overview

    About Taranis

    Taranis first flight video footage

    Named after the Celtic god of thunder, the Taranis concept aircraft represents the pinnacle of UK engineering and aeronautical design.

    The Taranis demonstrator is the result of one-and-a-half-million man hours of work by the UK’s leading scientists, aerodynamicists and systems engineers from 250 UK companies.

    Controlled by a human operator

    Bob Fraser, Commander for Taranis first flight

    The aircraft was designed to demonstrate the UK’s ability to create an unmanned air system which, under the control of a human operator, is capable of undertaking sustained surveillance, marking targets, gathering intelligence, deterring adversaries and carrying out strikes in hostile territory.

    Technological advances

    Taranis in flight

    The findings from the aircraft’s test flights show that the UK has developed a significant lead in understanding unmanned aircraft which could strike with precision over a long range whilst remaining undetected.

    The technological advances made through Taranis will also help the UKMOD and Royal Air Force make decisions on the future mix of manned and unmanned fast jet aircraft and how they will operate together in a safe and effective manner for the UK’s defences.

    The story so far

    Taranis during trials at Warton

    Costing £185 million and funded jointly by the UK MOD and UK industry, the Taranis demonstrator aircraft was formally unveiled in July 2010.

    Initial ‘power-up’ or ground testing commenced later in 2010 at BAE Systems’ military aircraft factory in Warton, Lancashire followed by a comprehensive and highly detailed programme of pre-first flight milestones. These included unmanned pilot training, radar cross section measurements, ground station system integration and, in April 2013 taxi trials on the runway at Warton.

    Taranis has now undergone a series of succesful flight trials and the team continues to develop the aircrafts capability.

    Team Taranis

    Team Taranis logo

    About the size of a BAE Systems Hawk aircraft - Taranis has been designed and built by BAE Systems, Rolls-Royce, the Systems division of GE Aviation (formerly Smiths Aerospace) and QinetiQ working alongside UK MOD military staff and scientists. In addition to prime contracting the project, BAE Systems led on many elements of the Taranis technology demonstrator, including the low observability, systems integration, control infrastructure and full autonomy elements (in partnership with QinetiQ).

    In addition to the existing industry partners, the project also works with a significant number of other UK suppliers who provide supporting technology and components.

     
  • Downloads
    • Taranis - looking to the future

      Download
  • News
    • BAE Systems and QinetiQ have signed a framework agreement which will see both parties collaborate in the area of autonomous uncrewed air systems (UAS) and mission management systems.

      BAE Systems and QinetiQ collaborate on autonomous uncrewed air systems

      BAE Systems and QinetiQ have signed a framework agreement which will see both parties collaborate in the area of autonomous uncrewed air systems (UAS) and mission management systems.
      12 Sep 2023
    • Global Combat Air Programme

      Global Combat Air Programme industry partners agree next steps on collaboration to deliver next generation combat aircraft

      Defence industry leaders in the UK, Japan and Italy have agreed a trilateral Collaboration Agreement to deliver the concept phase requirements of a next generation combat aircraft for the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP).
      12 Sep 2023
    • Head-on view of F-35 aircraft ready for flight

      BAE Systems successfully flight tests next-generation vehicle management computer for the F-35 Lightning II

      Flight control technology upgrade maximizes processing power for added mission capabilities and safety enhancements
      6 Sep 2023
    • PHASA-35 Stratospheric flight 2023

      PHASA-35® completes first successful stratospheric flight

      British engineers have successfully completed a stratospheric flight trial of BAE Systems’ High Altitude Pseudo Satellite (HAPS) Uncrewed Aerial System (UAS) - PHASA-35.
      14 Jul 2023
    • FalconWorks Teal logo

      BAE Systems unveils new research facility to accelerate cutting-edge combat air capability

      BAE Systems has launched a new division within its Air Sector called FalconWorks™. It is a new centre for advanced and agile research and development designed to deliver a range of cutting-edge combat air capabilities to the UK and its allies.
      10 Jul 2023
    • CGI radar on Typhoon animation

      Multi-million pound contract to equip Royal Air Force Typhoons with latest advanced radar capabilities

      The Ministry of Defence (MOD) has awarded BAE Systems a £870m contract to deliver a new radar to enhance the Royal Air Force’s (RAF) Typhoon fighter jet fleet and strengthen the aircraft’s control of the airspace whilst providing cutting-edge electronic warfare capabilities.
      4 Jul 2023
    • Image of combat air demonstrator crew escape rig

      UK industry reveals advanced technologies for next generation flying combat air demonstrator

      Engineers from the UK’s leading combat air industry partners have released more details about work taking place to deliver the UK’s first flying combat air demonstrator for a generation.
      14 Jun 2023
    • Artists impression of Tempest next generation combat aircraft over London

      New multi-million pound investment to boost technologies for the UK’s future combat aircraft

      The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has awarded a contract extension worth £656 million to BAE Systems to progress the concepting and technology of the next generation combat aircraft, known as Tempest in the UK.
      14 Apr 2023
    • People working on F-35 Lightning II

      Lockheed Martin and F-35 Joint Program Office sign £147 million contract for F-35 Lightning II fleet support

      Lockheed Martin and the F-35 Joint Program Office (JPO) have signed the Lightning Air System National Capability Enterprise (LANCE) 23-27 contract to support the United Kingdom’s F-35 fleet. The aircraft support contract is valued at approximately £147M and will ensure and enhance the UK F-35 fleet’s availability and capability to conduct combat missions worldwide.
      4 Apr 2023

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News release: first flight
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