BAE to develop drone with British Defense Ministry
FARNBOROUGH, England—
The propeller-powered vehicle, known as Mantis, was revealed for the first time by BAE at the Farnborough International Airshow outside London. The program is jointly funded by the Ministry of Defense. The pair did not disclose financial terms
The deal with the Defense Ministry, which covers the first phase of development and flight testing only, aims to show the potential of a large unmanned aircraft to support Britain's military.
The Mantis is armed with GBU-12 laser-guided bombs and Brimstone missiles on its six weapon pylons. The twin-prop, T-tailed vehicle is equipped with a multi-sensor turret and radar under the fuselage, and a satellite communications antenna in the upper nose section.
BAE said the design and manufacture of the Mantis and its associated ground control is already underway -- it displayed a full-size model on the tarmac at Farnborough.
The aircraft will be assembled and ground testing will take place later this year, with the first flight currently scheduled for early 2009.
"We expect to see positive early results before deciding about further investment in a longer term program," said Simon Bollom, director general of Combat Air at the Defense Ministry.
It could be a competitor to the Reaper, which is currently used by the Royal Air Force in Afghanistan and by the U.S. Air Force in both Afghanistan and Iraq.
The RAF was able to purchase three Reapers as part of an urgent requirement to support troops fighting in Afghanistan. One of those aircraft crashed with what is believed to have been engine trouble.
The Mantis is the latest -- and the largest -- in a string of unmanned platforms developed by BAE in recent years.
Industrial partners on the new project include 
