Taranis: UK BAe Systems new drone

Taranis, one of the latest creations from UK's BAE Systems. The innovative British aerospace company has been showing off its flying characteristics in a high-profile launch this week, although the project has been in development for a number of years.

It’s roughly the same size as a small fighter jet but that’s where the similarity stops, because Taranis is an unmanned drone, designed to take combat and aerial observation into a whole new dimension.

Named after the Celtic god of thunder, the concept is the result of years of hard work by engineers here in the UK who have combined around 1.5 million man hours to build a vision of future warfare.

Scientists, aerodynamicists and systems engineers have all worked together to create the ambitious project, which has been unveiled by BAE Systems today.

Its manufacturers hope that it clearly illustrates the ability of UK boffins to produce an unmanned aerial system that can not only carry out hostile strikes when needed, but will also prove a formidable force when it comes to surveillance and information gathering.

What’s more, it can all be done by a human operator who is located thousands of miles away from the battle zone.

Taranis has hoovered up around £185 million of joint funding provided by the MOD and UK industry.

The first incarnation of Taranis was revealed back in 2010, but such is the complexity of this design that it is only now that the near-to-completion model has made it to the runway.

Taranis made its maiden flight in August of 2013, under the watchful eye of BAE Systems’ test pilot Bob Fraser.