Airbus DS, DCNS partner to advance unmanned naval helicopter system

Airbus Defense and Space and DCNS are partnering for continued development of a ship-based unmanned tactical helicopter called Tanen.

Tanen has a maximum take-off weight of about 771.6 pounds. It is powered by a diesel engine and equipped with extensive detection and identification capabilities.

Airbus Defense and Space says the aircraft has already demonstrated a capability to fire 68mm rockets.

Under a cooperation agreement signed earlier this week, Airbus DS will produce the entire certified unmanned aerial system, including its payloads, datalink and control station.

DCNS, and industrial group specializing in naval system, will integrate Tanen on a warship and into the vessel's combat system, with interfaces and modules to allow Tanen operations to be controlled by the ship's command.

"This agreement underscores the high level of expertise associated with our TANAN program as well as our desire to provide the naval market with a perfectly matched system, in collaboration with our partner DCNS," said Jean-Marc Nasr, chief operations officer of Airbus Defense and Space SAS.

"DCNS will be the only company to offer both its current and prospective customers an integrated solution for operating a UAS that can be armed from on board a combat ship. In partnership with Airbus, DCNS offers reliable, functional and perfectly integrated solutions for naval combat platforms and systems," said Pierre Legros, President of Surface Naval Systems at DCNS.