TE EXPERIENCE OF UAS AT NEAT

摘要

NEAT is the largest overland aerospace test area in Europe, covering more than 20 000 square kilometres. Unmanned Systems have been flown at the Vidsel Test Range part of NEAT since 1959, first in the form of target drones for missile tests, and from 1999 in the form of mini-, tactical and MALE UAS. Among the campaigns held have been the first flights of the Sky-X and Sky-Y vehicles from Alenia Aeronutica, and operational evaluation of a European UAS regiment before shipping out to a conflict area. This paper will discuss among other things the Swedish flight test permit process, and how, by using a simplified method to maintain the validity of the flight test permit, changes in the vehicle and test plan can be incorporated within days, sometimes hours. This increases project safety by allowing changes without slipping in time due to red tape. Experiences from the flight campaigns and preparations for the future Neuron flights will also be among the subjects touched.