A 15-month risk reduction study on the Advanced UAV project has allowed EADS to pin a production price tag of about 90 million to 100 million euros ($125.8 million to $139.7 million) per system, confirming the total 2.8 billion euro budget for 15 systems for France, Germany, and Spain, said Nicolas Chamussy, senior vice president for mission air systems.
The unit price per system would be about 90 million to 100 million euros, depending on the detailed specifications, he told journalists on June 8th. One system comprises three jet-propelled air vehicles, a ground station, plus spares. The development stage would cost 1.5 billion euros and would run to 2013 or 2014, Chamussy said. EADS would need to land an order for 10 to 15 systems to make economic sense.
Potentially, France and Germany would each take six systems and Spain three, if the three countries decide to launch the program, which would provide Europe with an autonomous, technological base in nexgen UAVs, EADS executives said. EADS delivered the risk reduction study in May to the three governments, which funded the work to the tune of 60 million euros. The company is now waiting for the three governments to decide whether to launch the Advanced UAV program with a development contract. Bernhard Gerwert, chief executive of Military Air Systems, said he did not expect a decision on Advanced UAV from the governments for another three or four months. Turkey has also officially asked to join the Advanced UAV program, which would allow the development costs to be shared among the four countries, Chamussy said. EADS believes there is export potential for a further 10 systems in the world market, he said. (Source: Pierre Tran, Defense News)
