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UATec announces the signing of the contract with FADA-CATEC to provide two K2B6 platforms
Madrid, August 25, 2010
Unmanned Aircraft Technologies (UATec) announces the signing of the contract for the supply of two units of its model K2B6 unmanned vehicle to the Advanced Center of Aerospace Technologies (CATEC) managed by the Andalusian Foundation for Aerospace Development (FADA).
Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) have been used for military missions since the Vietnam War. Lately UAS are experiencing a substantial development arising from the expectations of legislation that will allow their use in civil applications such as prevention and management of fire and other disasters, border control and anti-terrorism as well as everyday uses like infrastructure monitoring, agricultural control and aerial cartography.
Spain is well positioned to become a substantial player in a market traditionally lead by the United States and Israel. For that reason, a number of specialized and highly dynamical companies, such as UATec, have been recently launched to complement big companies like EADS-CASA and INDRA.
The two platforms acquired by FADA-CATEC will be used in the “Centro de Vuelos Experimentales Atlas” (Experimental Flight Center Atlas) that is being built in Villacarrillo (Jaén). The Atlas center will hold a runway of 600 m within a 15 Ha plot and, above all, will control a permanent segregated airspace. Being the first center of its characteristics in Spain, will allow companies and research organizations perform experimental flights and demonstrations of UAS. It shows the commitment of the Government of Andalusia to promote the aerospace activity in the region.
The two aerial platforms to be supplied correspond to the fourth generation systems distributed by UATec, model K2B in the 6 m wingspan configuration. These systems have a Maximum Weight at Take-Off (MTOW) of less than 100 kg and can transport a useful load of 45 kg, enough to carry the equipment and fuel needed to fulfill most civil applications, with up to 18 hours endurance.
About Unmanned Aircraft Technologies
UATec is a joint venture between Prointec (a leading civil engineer consulting company part of the Indra group) and Unmanned Solutions (USol), a technology based company with links with the Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (UPM), originated within the "Grupo de Investigación de Sistemas Dinámicos" (GISD - Dinamical Systems Research Group), a research institution part of the Escuela de Ingeniería Aeronaútica y del Espacio (EIAE - School of Aeronautical and Space Engineering). The activity of UATec is the provision of services based in unmanned vehicles designed and engineered by USol.
Since its incorporation in 2008, USol and UATec have participated in significant R&D projects related to the development of UAS, such as the Atlantida project, co-financed by the CDTI and leaded by Boeing Research and Technology Europe with the objective of designing new ATM systems.