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Programme to improve UAV launch mechanisms

A Converteam product story
Edited by the Engineeringtalk editorial team Mar 20, 2007

The next generation of military unmanned aerial vehicles and manned aircraft launch technology is being developed bin a project valued at Eur 3.64.

The next generation of military unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and manned aircraft launch technology is being developed by Converteam in Rugby, in a project valued at Eur 3.64 (GBP 2.6 million).

This new development contract awarded by the Ministry of Defence as part of its Above Water Effects research programme will prove a new launch system based on electromagnetic kinetic integrated technology (EMKIT).

Converteam's Senior Vice-President, Prosanto Das-Gupta explains, ''The EMKIT project will be the first electromagnetic launcher of its type in the UK and will demonstrate the capability of this technology to launch a range of UAVs and manned aircraft from both land and sea".

The EMKIT project covers the design, build and testing of a high-speed, high-acceleration demonstrator.

The test programme will include dynamic acceleration and stopping tests on a range of test masses at various speeds, within a short launch length, in order to demonstrate the flexibility and scalability of the technology and ultimately deliver a significantly increased launch capability, compared with existing assisted aircraft launch methods.

This is an important area of development as UAVs have proven themselves in recent years in surveillance and reconnaissance roles.

Their capabilities are now being extended to perform as weapons platforms and for many other duties.

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