Engineering:BAE Systems Corax
 | This article relies largely or entirely on a single source. (November 2015) |
The Corax, also known as Raven (Corax being Latin for raven), was a prototype unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) developed by BAE Systems Military Air & Information and financed by the Ministry of Defence.
Design and development
The development of Corax took place during the early-to-mid 2000s, and was funded by the Ministry of Defence.[1] It is known to have performed its first flight during 2004. At least one test flight had involved the execution of a fully autonomous mission, which included the aircraft both taking off and landing while remaining under computer control.[2][3] Following a series of successful flight tests, BAE Systems was awarded a follow-on contract to investigate UAV safety.[1] During December 2005, the existence of Corax was revealed to the general public.[4][3]
Corax has been described by BAE Systems as a highly survivable strategic UAV platform.[3] In terms of its general configuration, the aircraft has a single shrouded above-fuselage jet engine and features an extended wing upon which the flight control surfaces are present. Corax lacks a conventional tail, which meant that it was more challenging to control while the aircraft's overall aerodynamic performance was increased.[1][3] The flight control systems were stated by BAE Systems to have been both flexible and modular.[3]
Corax was observed to be reminiscent of contemporary stealth aircraft; it was speculated that the airframe's exterior surfaces had been specifically shaped to evade radar detection by reflecting radar away from its source rather that returning to it.[1] The aviation author Bill Sweetman noted that Corax resembles larger aerial surveillance aircraft and that it appeared to have been designed to fly at high altitudes at a relatively slow speed.[1][3] In contrast to the BAE Systems HERTI UAV, which was marketed towards both civil and military opportunities, Corax was specifically intended for defence purposes.[5]
Corax has been reportedly superseded by the BAE Systems Taranis unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV).[6]
See also
Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era
- General Atomics MQ-9 Reaper
- Lockheed Martin RQ-3 DarkStar
- Dassault nEUROn
- EADS Barracuda
- Lockheed Martin RQ-170 Sentinel
- BAE Systems Taranis
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Knight, Will (17 January 2006). "Uncrewed combat plane prototypes revealed". New Scientist. https://www.newscientist.com/article/dn8596-uncrewed-combat-plane-prototypes-revealed/.
- ↑ Rincon, Paul (16 January 2006). "Covers come off UK spy plane". BBC News. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/4617588.stm.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 Hoyle, Craig (19 December 2005). "BAE unveils its UCAV secrets". Flight International. https://www.flightglobal.com/military-uavs/2005/12/bae-unveils-its-ucav-secrets/.
- ↑ Haines, Lester (16 January 2006). "UK lifts lid on unmanned stealth aircraft". The Register. https://www.theregister.com/2006/01/16/corax_unveiled/.
- ↑ Pocock, Chris (16 November 2006). "BAE’s Herti UAV will spy in uniform or in civvies". AIN Online. https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/defense/2006-11-16/baes-herti-uav-will-spy-uniform-or-civvies.
- ↑ "British CORAX UAV Joins UCAV Trend". https://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/british-corax-uav-joins-ucav-trend-01787/.
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