United Kingdom Aerospace and Weapons Projects

Targets and UAVs

011103 L = length, S = span, W = weight, R = range, Ø = diameter

Name

Description

Remarks

Particulars

Archangel

AVPRO reconnaissance drone

Possibly a design study.

N/A

ASAT

Advanced Subsonic Aerial Target

Flight Refuelling target drone. Known in British Army service as Falconet

S = 10ft (3.05m), L = 11.5ft (3.5m), W = 230lb (507Kg)

B.3

Auster radio control target.

Designed to train Bofors gun crews by strapping a Bren gun to the barrel.

N/A

Banshee

TTL target drone.

Formed the basis of the French Crecerelle.

S = 8.1ft (2.5m), L = 9.3ft (2.8m), W = 155lb (70Kg)

C.4

Air Service Training target.

Towed behind a tug aircraft for air-to-air gunnery practice.

N/A

Demon (target)

TTL target drone

N/A

S = 8.5ft (2.59m), L = 7ft (2.13m), W = 75lb (34Kg)

Falcon (RPV)

Miniature surveillance drone

Developed from Merlin.

S = 7ft (2.13m), L = 6.5ft (1.98m) W = 36lb (16.3Kg)

Falconet

British army name for ASAT.

Flight Refuelling target drone. Launches from a circular track.

S = 10ft (3.05m), L = 11.5ft (3.5m), W = 230lb (507Kg)

Firebird

Ferranti reconnaissance drone

N/A

S = 14.5ft (4.4m), L = 11ft (3.4m), W = 308lb (140Kg)

Flyrt

Miltrain target RPV

Designed to provide small arms anti-aircraft target practice.

S = 2.6ft (0.8m), L = 4ft (1.22m) W = 6.6lb (3Kg)

FR-500

Flight Refuelling multi-purpose drone.

Became ASAT

S = 7ft (2.1m), L = 14ft (4.27m) W = 490lb (222Kg)

Heron (RPV)

Miniature target drone

Entered service with British Army

S = 9.9ft (3m), L = 7ft (2.13m) W = 53lb (24Kg)

Hornet

TTL target drone

Intended to replace Skeet.

N/A

Imp (RPV)

TTL target drone

N/A

S = 6ft (1.83), L = 3.6ft (1.01m) W = 13lb (6Kg)

Jindivik

Target drone developed in Australia by GAF.

Entered service with RAF and RAE. Uses a Viper turbojet.

S = 20.75ft (6.3m), L = 23.25ft (7.11m) W = 3650lb (1655Kg)

Machan

Marconi / Cranfield surveillance RPV

Designed by Cranfield under Marconi sub-contract.

S = 12ft (3.7m), L = 7ft (2.1m) W = 180lb (82Kg)

Merlin (RPV)

Miniature surveillance RPV

Developed by RCS into the Falcon.

S = 4.75ft (1.45m), L = 4ft (1.22m) W = 10.5lb (4.8Kg)

Mossette

RCS miniature drone.

Flight characteristics similar to wire guided ATGW. Used for ATGW training.

S = 4ft (1.22m), L = 3.5ft (1.07m) W = 4lb (1.8Kg)

Observer

Cranfield Aerospace / Qinetiq UAV demonstrator.

Catapult launched and parachute recovered.

S = 7.9ft (2.4m), L = 5.5ft (1.68m) W = 99lb (45Kg)

Phoenix

GEC reconnaissance drone

Entered service with the Royal Artillery. Used in Kosovo with mixed results, but much improved in Iraq. To be replaced by Watchkeeper.

S = 18ft (5.5m), L = 12.5ft (3.8m) W = 386lb (175Kg)

Project K

Supersonic target drone.

Intended for Woomera, cancelled.

N/A

Raven (RPV)

Flight Refuelling surveillance drone.

Developed from the RAE's XRAE-1. Raven 2 developed from XRAE-2 (q.v.)

S = 11.8ft (3.6m), L = 10.5ft (3.2m) W = 185lb (84.1Kg)

SATS

RCS target drone.

Used for training for anti-aircraft fire with small arms.

S = 7.25ft (2.21m), L = 6.5ft (1.98m) W = 9lb (4.1Kg)

Sea Falcon

Naval target drone for Goalkeeper training.

Developed from the Flight Refuelling ASAT for sea skimming missile simulation.

S = 10ft (3.05m), L = 11.5ft (3.5m), W = 230lb (507Kg)

Sea Fly

Naval target drone for Goalkeeper training.

Developed by Flight Refuelling and TTL for sea skimming missile simulation.

N/A

Sea Star

Naval target drone for Goalkeeper

Developed for sea skimming missile simulation.

N/A

Sea Witch

B.Ae naval target drone for Goalkeeper

N/A

N/A

Shelduck

Target drone.

Used by Royal Navy. Superseded by the Mirach 500 series.

N/A

Skeet

Shorts target drone.

Entered service.

S = 11ft (3.35m), L = 8.9ft (2.72m) W = 138lb (63Kg)

Skyspy

Shorts VTOL surveillance UAV.

Ducted fan powered by a 65hp two-stroke engine.

N/A

Snipe (RPV)

AEL target drone

N/A

S = 10.25ft (3.14m), L = 8.2ft (2.5m)

Sparrowhawk

AEL RPV

N/A

S = 10.5ft (3.21m), L = 9ft (2.7m) W = 130lb (59Kg)

Spectre (RPV)

TTL target drone

N/A

N/A

Sprite (RPV)

ML Aviation surveillance RPV

RPV helicopter

N/A

Stabileye

B.Ae. surveillance RPV

N/A

S = 12ft (3.66m), L = 9.5ft (2.8m) W = 176lb (80Kg)

Streek

RPV trainer

N/A

N/A

Swift

ASVEC target RPV

N/A

S = 9ft (2.74m), L = 7.5ft (2.3m) W = 74lb (33.6Kg)

Voodoo

TTL drone

A jet powered development of the Banshee.

S = 8.1ft (2.5m), L = 9.3ft (2.8m), W = 155lb (70Kg)

Watchkeeper

UK Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition and Reconnaissance system.

To replace the Phoenix UAV for tactical use.

N/A

Wide-eye

Westland RPV helicopter.

Small rotary wing surveillance RPV.

N/A

Wisp

Westland RPV helicopter.

Small twin rotor surveillance RPV.

N/A

XRAE-1

RAE surveillance drone.

Developed into Flight Refuelling Raven.

S = 8.8ft (2.7m), L = 6.8ft (2.1m) W = 8.8lb (4Kg)

XRAE-2

RAE surveillance drone

Developed into Flight Refuelling Raven 2.

S = 11.8ft (3.6m), L = 10.5ft (3.2m) W = 185lb (84.1Kg)