EADS D&S Produces 500th Target Drone

- Target drones from Friedrichshafen successfully in use since 2003
- Worldwide aerial target services with drones

(June 30, 2008) -- EADS Defence & Security (DS) in Friedrichshafen-Immenstaad has achieved a milestone with production of its 500th target drone. These air vehicles are used in the training of air defence units and flight crews as well as for the testing and trials of guided missiles. The 'anniversary drone' that left the production facility on 26 June bears the designation Do-DT25-55. It is a member of the successful family of all-weather direct target (DT) drone systems and is specifically designed to simulate threats from anti-radar guided missiles.

Since production began in 2003, this line of drones has grown to include four models with seven variants. The DT25-55 and the recently developed DT45 are the latest members of that system family. The DT25-55 consists of a carrier drone (DT-25) transporting a target drone (DT-55) on its underside. The are launched in tandem by means of a catapult and, once inside the area of operations, the speedier DT-55 separates from the carrier drone and begins its mission of target simulation. The DT45 is an all-purpose drone used to simulate very high-speed targets. Thanks to its extremely low-level flight capability, for naval forces it can play the role of 'sea skimming missiles'. All drones can either fly a pre-programmed course over waypoints or be remotely controlled during flight.

Developed by DS' Military Air Systems (MAS) Business Unit, the target drones are easy to handle and extremely reliable. They are highly versatile and allow either land-based or ship-based launch. At the same time, they are less costly to operate than comparable systems available on the market.

Source : EADS Defence & Security

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