Intended to de-risk and demonstrate an automatic shipborne unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) landing system, the work culminated in the third quarter of 2012 with sea trials undertaken from a French Navy La Fayette-class frigate in the Mediterranean. This followed a series of land-based test and trials activities.Commencing in 2008, the D2AD programme - which forms part of a wider risk-reduction effort to inform and support future tactical UAV programmes for the French Navy - set out with the objective to demonstrate an automatic take-off and landing system that could open the way to the intensive but safe use of vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) UAVs from ships.
展开▼
