The Taranis Unveiled
Taranis, the god of thunder in Celtic mythology, is depicted with a Jupiter wheel in one hand and a thunderbolt in the other. It is also the name of the latest project undertaken by the United Kingdom to improve their military capabilities and transform the face of military weaponry. The Taranis is an unmanned stealth aircraft that has been under construction for the last four years, and was recently unveiled to the world. Its unique design and state-of-the-art technology will change the dynamics of long range combat.
Taranis, the god of thunder in Celtic mythology, is depicted with a Jupiter wheel in one hand and a thunderbolt in the other. It is also the name of the latest project undertaken by the United Kingdom to improve their military capabilities and transform the face of military weaponry. The Taranis is an unmanned stealth aircraft that has been under construction for the last four years, and was recently unveiled to the world. Its unique design and state-of-the-art technology will change the dynamics of long range combat.
BAE Systems, which is located in Warton, has been working tirelessly on the Taranis project, overseeing its design and weaponry technology. It has cost £142.5m to complete this magnificent prototype and flight tests are scheduled to start in 2011. One of the most important features of the Taranis is its ability to fly deep into the territories of the enemy without being detected by ground radar. It will not only be used as a method of attack, but will also be able to gather vital intelligence. The Taranis’ extraordinary aeronautical design has enabled it to take on the same measurements as a light aircraft, and it is also able to reach high speeds to be able to keep up with jet aircraft. As an attack aircraft, the Taranis has been designed to carry a variety of weapons, including missiles and bombs. Due to the fact that the Taranis is an unmanned aircraft, no lives of pilots will be risked, allowing the Taranis to take on missions that are deemed too dangerous for pilots.
The extremely innovative design and construction of the Taranis is a great achievement for the United Kingdom. The Minister for International Security Strategy, Gerald Howarth, commented on the success of the project by saying: “The first of its kind in the UK, it reflects the best of our nation’s advanced design and technology skills and is a leading program on the global stage.” The maintenance and running of the Taranis will also be at a lower cost than manned aircraft, and it is hoped that this spectacular example of UK engineering will pave the way for future military aircraft.
