Eads Harfang - Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia 343646

EADS Harfang - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/EADS_Harfang

EADS Harfang From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia The Harfang,[1] formerly known as Système intérimaire de drone MALE (SIDM, "Interim medium-altitude, long-endurance drone system") is a drone system used by the French Air Force, supplementing the RQ-5 Hunter.

Contents 1 Project history 2 Design 2.1 Drones 2.2 Control station 3 Operational history 4 Versions 5 Units 6 Specifications 7 See also 8 Sources and references

Harfang/Eagle One Remote controlled, medium altitude, long endurance drone Manufacturer EADS and IAI 9 September 2006 at Istres-Le Tubé First flight airbase 125 Introduction June 2008 Primary French Air Force Number built 4 Developed IAI Heron from Role

Project history The French Air Force purchased its first drones in 1995, with a number of RQ-5 Hunter. The IAI Heron was put on display at the 1999 Paris Air Show and generated some interest; a project to field a derivative was started two years later. On 9 September 2006, a prototype was launched for trials from Istres-Le Tubé Air Base. Trials by the Centre d'essais en vol followed, before transfer of the plane to Mont-de-Marsan Air Base The drone was originally planned to be delivered to the Air Force for the summer of 2003 as a replacement for the Hunters, which were phased out in September 2004. A number of industrial setbacks delayed the delivery, notably that the satellite communication system did not conform with Air Force requirements. The drones were modified to satisfy the requirements, changing them from an "off-the-shelf" product into a custom plane built specially for the French Air Force. The plane and onboard computer are built by Malat, a division of Israel Aerospace Industries, based on the IAI Heron. The French Air Force ordered three planes and two ground control stations. The SIDM entered service in June 2008 in the Drone Experimentation Squadron 1/330 Adour, in Cognac, a unit of the Centre des expérimentations militaires. A four-phase programme took place between 2008 and 2009: instruction of the squadron in the use of the system instruction of the operators in the sensors C4ISTAR management and communication to upper levels communication with ground forces

Design

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EADS Harfang - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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The Harfang is composed of two main components: the drone and the ground control station.

Drones The Harfang drone is an unmanned airplane propelled by a rear-mounted turbo-supercharged water-cooled flat-four engine, driving a pusher propeller. It features a flapped high wing with anti-icing system, and has a twin boom tail with two vertical surfaces. With a take-off mass of 1.2 tonnes, the Harfang can carry a 250-kg payload to height of 7500 metres for a duration of 24 hours. The mission pack is a three-sensor sphere stabilised by gyroscope, mounted under the forward part of the fuselage. It contains optronic and IR sensors, a laser designator that doubles as a rangefinder, and a high-resolution, fixed echo suppressing synthetic aperture radar. The radar can be used to observe vehicle movement on the ground under any meteorological condition. The antenna is mounted on the centre of the body. The Harfang carries an Inertial measurement unit with GPS recalibration, and a differential GPS that provides for automatic take-off and landing capabilities. In case of loss of communications, the drone follows a path that brings it back to its start point, while trying to re-establish . The drone carries an IFF transponder and a flight recorder. The Harfang lacks electromagnetic sensors and is wanting in of maneoverability. It is limited by bad weather, notably by icing or high humidity conditions.

Rear of the body

Side view, with top radar antenna and bottom sensor sphere well visible

Tail of Vehicle 1021 F-SDAU with the insignia of the unit

View of the engine

Control station The control station is composed of four modules, numbered M1 through M4: M1 is the mission preparation station. It is based on a Mirage 2000 briefing station. M2 is the command and control unit, used mostly during take-off and landing. Most of the mission is automated. M3 is the data collection unit, receiving information through satellite communication M4 is the military intelligence centre. A line-of-sight link allows for direct communication up to 150 to 200 kilometres away. Longer ranges utilise a directional antenna and geostationary satellites. The Very High Frequency and Ultra high frequency communication relay provides for links to ground units and air traffic control.

Operational history 19-05-2013 01:20

EADS Harfang - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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In 2007, the Harfang was deployed in Lourdes to provide security for Pope Benedict XVI.[2] In February 2009, the 3 Harfang were sent to Afghanistan and deployed at Bagram, under Lieutenantcolonel Cyril Carcy.[3] In late March or early April, drone number F-SDAY was damaged when it crashed due to freezing, and possibly to human or software error. Purchase of a fourth vehicle to replace F-SDAY is under consideration, while it is being repaired and redeployed in for training. In August 2011, Harfangs were deployed to the Libyan conflict.[4]

Versions Eagle 0 : prototype, first flight in 1998. Eagle 1 : first production versions, first flight on 2 June 2003 in Israel. Eagle MPR : naval version of Eagle 1. Eagle 2 : larger version of Eagle 1 with a Pratt & Whitney PT6 turbopropeller.

Units Vehicle 1021, F-SDAU.[5] Vehicle 1022, F-SDAY. Damaged in accidental crash and brought back to Mont de Marsan air base. Vehicle 1023 - F-SDAZ

Specifications General characteristics Crew: none Length: 9,30 metres () Wingspan: 16,6 metres () Height: () Empty weight: 657 kg () Max. takeoff weight: 1 250 kg () Powerplant: 1 × Rotax 914 F turbocharged engine, 115 hp (86 kW)

Performance Maximum speed: 207 km/h Range: 1 000 km () Service ceiling: 7 620 metres ()

Avionics Optronic sensors SAR/MTI mobile target detection radar Line-of-sight and satellite communication systems Laser telemeter-designator

See also

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EADS Harfang - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: EADS Harfang List of unmanned aerial vehicles

Sources and references 1. ^ http://www.defense.gouv.fr/air/base/focus/2009/1er_trimestre/harfang_operationnel_en_afghanistan 2. ^ "Defending Our Security" (http://www.webcitation.org/61DLvHNgK). GIT Security. 16 December 2010. Archived from the original (http://www.git-security.com/topstories/management/defendingour-security) on 25 August 2011. Retrieved 26 August 2011. 3. ^ French unmanned aircraft protect Bagram Airmen, coalition forces (http://www.af.mil /news/story.asp?id=123158417), US Air Force, 13 July 2009 4. ^ "Libya deploys Harfang over Libya" (http://www.webcitation.org/61DLQHjbP). Flightglobal.com. 25 August 2011. Archived from the original (http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2011/08/25/361301 /libya-deploys-harfang-over-libya.html) on 25 August 2011. Retrieved 26 August 2011. 5. ^ Bagram Airfield photos (http://www.bagram.afcent.af.mil/photos/media_search.asp?q=uav& btnG.x=0&btnG.y=0), Bagram Airfield official site, US Air Force Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=EADS_Harfang&oldid=540778831" Categories: Unmanned aerial vehicles of French military reconnaissance aircraft 2000–2009 EADS aircraft This page was last modified on 26 February 2013 at 23:39. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License; additional may apply. By using this site, you agree to the of Use and . Wikipedia® is a ed trademark of the Wikimedia Foundation, Inc., a non-profit organization.

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