Airbus To Begin Trials Of Tanan Block 2 UAS Soon

Airbus Defense and Space will perform ground tests on the Tanan Block 2 unmanned aircraft system (UAS), with first flight expected to take place in next couple of months, according to Flightglobal.com.

The aircraft-maker is expecting its first customers for the Block 2 vertical take-off and landing unmanned aircraft system, which will have a flight endurance of more than 10h with a maximum take-off weight of 570kg (1,250lb), including a 100kg payload capacity.

“Tanan is entering its flight test campaign just now,” Nielsen adds. “Our expectation is that we will get one or two contracts this year. From the data we have so far it seems to be a very reliable system,” Jens Nielsen, head of unmanned aerial systems for the company’s Military Aircraft business unit was quoted as saying.

With the Block 1 Tanan having been based on the CybAero's APID 60 design, the Block 2 has a large amount of changes in the aircraft structure and control systems.
Visible differences from the Block 1 includes changes in the location of the electro-optic sensor, provision for a maritime radar under the nose, the Harpoon deck-recovery system, and an increased rotor column length to improve flight performance. The Block 2 version retains the same heavy fuel engine successfully flight tested in Block 1 version, according to Janes.