Saab Aerostructures is participating in the design and production of NEURON
During Farnborough this year, Saab will focus on unmanned aircrafts (UAVs). Saab is working on a number of UAV projects, among others the cooperation with French Dassault on the UCAV (Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicle) technology demonstrator program NEURON.
In December 2003 a MoU was signed between Saab Aerosystems and Dassault with regards to participation in the project. Contract negotiations involving among other things distribution of the various work packages are now in progress. Saab’s involvement in the NEURON program involves different work packages. Saab Aerostructures will participate in airframe work packages.
“Saab Aerostructures will be responsible for design and production of structure sections for NEURON. The work will be done in close cooperation with Saab Aerosystems and within the frame of the agreement Saab has with Dassault”, says Kristina Thuree, Program Director Aerosystems programs at Saab Aerostructures.
Saab Aerostructures will participate in the airframe work packages as a sub-contractor to Saab Aerosystems which is the Main National Sub-Contractor in Sweden. The work packages involve design and production of the forward and central fuselage and also include system installation for which Saab Aerosystems will be responsible. Saab Aerostructures will have an active role in the project at an early stage to be able to help define NEURON, among other things by having personnel on site in France who will work with the Dassault’s team. Production will later take place at Saab in Linköping.
“We will work as an integral part of the cooperation with other partners. The work with NEURON is an important European cooperation and we have much experience to contribute from previous international projects, both military and civil”, says Kristina Thuree.
Saab Aerostructures sees the work of designing and manufacturing structure sections to the NEURON as a possibility to be a part in designing technology for the future. Saab Aerostructures has performed studies for many years within the field of UAV structure and sees the NEURON project as a possibility to achieve results in a full-scale technology demonstrator project.
The contract between Saab Aerosystems and Dassault for NEURON is scheduled for signing during the autumn and the work in the project is scheduled to begin in the end of the year. First flight for NEURON is planned for 2009.
Back to CNB 4/2004