Interview with Bernhard Gerwert, CEO Military Air Systems EADS DS
07:29 GMT, August 26, 2010 Under the name of Talarion, European aerospace-giant EADS is developing the next generation of a European unmanned aerial system (UAS) for Intelligence, Surveillance and Target Acquisition (ISTAR) tasks of the partner countries Germany, France and Spain. Revealed during last year’s Paris Air Show, the development of Talarion is now proceeding as a pre-financed programme of EADS and is awaiting orders by customers that need to meet ISTAR requirements of today’s demanding military operations in a networked environment. Bernhard Gerwert, CEO Military Air Systems EADS Defence & Security, assessed the programme in details, industrial participation and negotiations with Turkey for Defence Turkey (DT), a media partner of defpro.com.
DT: Could you please describe the new Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) programme dubbed Talarion?
Gerwert: Talarion is the new European UAS programme to fulfil the operational requirements of Germany, France and Spain for future Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition and Reconnaissance (ISTAR) missions. Due to its specific design Talarion is able to operate over its broad flight envelope spectrum, thereby establishing persistent surveillance, precise adversary identification, localisation and real-time intelligence.
Main design drivers for Talarion are the requirements to get a full certification, allowing flying in non-segregated airspace, operational superiority providing large coverage at long distances, mission modularity adaptable to the operational scenarios and autonomy.
Heart of the Talarion UAS is its modular payload concept, thereby providing the possibility to extend the system’s capability in many directions. The internal payload and sensor integration guarantees Talarion’s operational readiness for simultaneous ground and maritime surveillance missions. The fuselage diameter allows the installation of a large SATCOM to cope with the high data rate demand and a retractable electro-optical infra-red laser designator turret to improve flight performance.
Finally, being a European development, Talarion provides all rights and possibilities for today's unlimited operational use and secures flexibility for future enhancements to always provide operational capabilities according to the needs of our customers.
DT: What is timeline of the Talarion programme?
Gerwert: In 2007, France, Germany and Spain shared their operational requirements for an Unmanned Aerial System such as Talarion. In 2009, EADS Defence & Security and partners reduced the risk of the programme with appropriate technical demonstrations and simulations. The Risk Reduction Study has been concluded with the delivery of a binding proposal covering the development and production of 15 systems. Since one system comprises three air vehicles, there is a total interest for 45 air vehicles. We will continue to pre-finance Talarion in order to secure first deliveries in 2016.
Let me also point out that we invested already more than €500 million in the development of all our unmanned aerial systems over the recent years. This investment underlines our commitment to be Europe's leading UAS provider. We have proven our technological capabilities many times, for instance with the successful operation of the Harfang by the French Air Force in Afghanistan, the first flight of the Barracuda technology demonstrator in Canada and our contributions to the EuroHawk which will be operated by the German Air Force.
DT: Can you comment on the industrial framework of this UAV programme?
Gerwert: EADS Defence & Security has all the development know-how and manufacturing skills for UAS based on the experiences of the different programmes in Germany, France and Spain. Initially, we started Talarion as a tri-national programme, however, the door for other partners such as Turkey is open.
Talarion would secure and create more than 10,000 jobs in the high technology aerospace and defence industry in Europe. And finally, being the next generation UAS to fly in civil airspace, Talarion would create significant export opportunities for the aerospace industry.
All these facts demonstrate that this unique capitalisation of operational and industrial experience build up around the Talarion programme has good chances of continued progress. In any case, it would strongly position the involved nations in the strategic competence sector of UAS, embedded in European and international cooperation.
DT: What is the status of your negotiations with the Defence Authorities in Turkey? What about a Turkish participation in this programme?
Gerwert: The Turkish Defence Authorities expressed a high interest to join this programme. We are currently assessing together with Turkish authorities and industry the possibility of Turkey entering the core development programme for Talarion. We would welcome Turkey as a new partner, knowing the technological know-how of the Turkish industry.
This programme would definitely anchor Turkey in the European aerospace industry, offering unique opportunities to participate in other major programmes. We would involve the Turkish defence industry in the development and production sector, thus generating huge increases in terms of expertise and jobs.
DT: What are your expectations for the future of Talarion?
Gerwert: There is an urgent need for independent ISTAR capabilities and the assessment of crisis situations in the European Armed Forces which will enable rapid political decision-making of its governments.
Our flexibility remains a determining key factor for the success of the Talarion programme and we are absolutely committed to realise every possible effort to satisfy the expectations of our customers.
Therefore, I expect the involved nations to decide for Talarion as the future ISTAR system for Europe. We will continue with the development because we are convinced that it is the right product with a long-term market potential.
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