Barracuda has been designed as technology-demonstrator for the development of future agile, autonomous and network-capable unmanned mission systems. The complete experimental carrier made of carbon composite material (length: over 8 m, wingspan: over 7 m, maximum takeoff weight: at least 3 t, jet-prowered) operates autonomously and is monitored by a ground station merely with regard to its flight safety. The demonstrator, which was designed as an electrical aircraft (with the exception of the landing gear, electronic actuators are used instead of hydraulic components), is equipped with a triplex flight control unit and has an open and modular avionic structure. This simplifies the installation and integration of an extremely wide range of sensors. These may be: electro-optical and infrared sensors, laser target designators, detectors for locating radio-magnetic signals (ELS - Emitter Locator System) and advanced Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR). Barracuda is contributed to the Agile UAV programme as flying testbed and therefore as an important part for the system’s demonstration.
