Airbus Defence and Space (D&S) has teamed with DCNS to target the ship-based UAS market with the TANAN vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) UAS. The companies announced the cooperation agreement at Euronaval on 28 October.

The agreement will see Airbus D&S produce the entire certified UAS, including the vehicle with its payloads, the datalink and the UAS control station; while DCNS will carry out the integration of the UAS on the ship and into its combat system. This will include the definition of the required functions and the interfaces with the combat system, to the production of corresponding UAS modules that will enable operations to be controlled via the ship’s command, to the on-board installation and implementation procedures.

The TANAN UAS has a maximum take-off weight of 350kg and is designed for maritime operations, to provide surface vessels with detection and identification capabilities. By integrating the UAS onto combat ships, the latter’s detection range and ability to accurately identify threats can be increased, while simultaneously ensuring operational availability.

Jean-Marc Nasr, COO, Airbus D&S, said: ‘This agreement underscores the high level of expertise associated with our TANAN programme as well as our desire to provide the naval market with a perfectly matched system, in collaboration with our partner DCNS.’

Pierre Legros, president of surface naval systems, DCNS, added: ‘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.’