BAE to Display UAVs and Eurofighter at Bahrain International Air Show 2010

by Marcel van Leeuwen

Visitors to the inaugural Bahrain International Air Show, to be held from 21-23 January 2010, will be able to see at first hand BAE Systems’ innovative technology in the form of MANTIS and HERTI, its unmanned air systems, and a full size replica of the Eurofighter Typhoon, the world’s most advanced multi-role/swing role combat aircraft. Through the Royal Bahraini Air Force and the Bahrain Defence Force, BAE Systems’ Hawk and Avro RJ100 in VIP configuration will also be represented.

“As one of the first companies to sign up, BAE Systems is delighted to be participating in the inaugural Bahrain International Airshow, particularly as the VIP nature will make it different to other air shows,“ commented Simon Keith, Managing Director – Middle East, Africa & Asia Pacific for BAE Systems.

“Bahrain is an important market for us and we have a strong relationship with both Royal Bahraini Air Force with the Hawk Trainer and the Bahrain Defence Force and their Avro RJ aircraft. We are looking forward to forging stronger bonds with Bahrain and to fully supporting them in protecting the nation and its people,” he continued.

As the premier global defence, security and aerospace company, BAE Systems is well known for its leading fighter aircraft and is now leading the way in the UK’s unmanned autonomous air capability.MANTIS and HERTI are next-generation autonomous air systems, with emphasis placed on the levels of autonomy designed into the system and the concept of operations developed for effective deployment and operation.

MANTIS, the UK’S largest fully autonomous unmanned aircraft, completed its maiden flight in Woomera, South Australia in Autumn 2009 and, during subsequent flights it successfully completed a series of trials demonstrating the capability of the system and the potential of large unmanned systems to support future UK Ministry of Defence (MOD) operational needs. The MANTIS programme is jointly funded by UK MOD and UK Industry.

With its ability to take off, complete a full mission and land – all at the click of a computer mouse – HERTI has been designed to meet a wide variety of operational needs, both cost effectively and with extremely high levels of reliability while removing the need for an operator or pilot to control the aircraft from the ground. When coupled with BAE Systems’ Imagery Collection & Exploitation (ICE) system, the aircraft offers real potential in the fields of maritime, coastline, border and military surveillance as well as showing broader potential for areas such as pipeline, plant and infrastructure surveillance, and insurgent detection.

Eurofighter Typhoon, Europe’s newest high-performance multi-role fighter, is capable of deployment in a wide range of roles, including air policing, air defence as well as ground attack. The Typhoon is a multi-role/swing-role combat aircraft that is in service with the four partner nations of Germany, Italy, Spain and the UK as well as export customers, Austria and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Posted in: Fighter jet,Middle East,UAV