Target drone systems

Airbus offers a full range of Target Systems providing realistic and cost-effective training for ground-based and naval Air Defence and Air-to-Air Combat, encompassing towed aerial Targets, direct aerial Targets and surface Targets.

With the expertise of more than 50 years of service for Armed Forces worldwide — involving over 3,500 missions performed and 2,300+ direct Targets deployed — Airbus has developed a set of proven support services that are tailorable to customers' specific needs and scenarios.

With its full-service solution, Airbus Defence and Space provides Aerial Target missions — delivered by Airbus personnel with AIRBUS hardware, equipment and Target drones. The service covers the main pillars of training

• The unmanned expendable airborne platform
• The capabilities of platform with the payload

• The scenarios with the realistic threat replication ranging from single- to multi-platform missions based on the planning together with the customer.

This allows customers to focus entirely on their training.

The Target Systems & Services solutions allows customers to replicate the most challenging Air Defence scenarios — including air strikes, asymmetric threats, missile engagements, fighter a/c and split Target scenarios. Naval Surface Targets are complementing the portfolio e.g. replicating Fast Incoming Attack Crafts (FIAC).

Airbus' product line of fixed-wing aerial Targets has grown to encompass four different models, which are deployed from mobile pneumatic catapult launchers and can simulate the complete engagement process — from detection and classification to engagement decision and action. The portfolio undergoes continuous development and will grow its capabilities in the next years further to always offer the most realistic threat representation.

These platforms and the service provided by the AIRBUS personnel are certified operations by various airworthiness agencies.

Aerial Target drone platforms and systems

The Do-DT25 is a medium-speed multi-purpose aerial Target that provides short-range infrared missile systems with an excellent Target to both track and engage for all Air Defence Scenarios.

The long list of operational payloads and its payload capacity adopts the platform to customer requirements.

To represent attack aircraft carrying a standoff ground attack weapon system, the Do-DT25 can be configured to carry and deploy a Do-DT55neo sub-Target, simulating an air-launched cruise missile.

The Do-DT45neo is an all-purpose drone used to represent high-speed Targets in each and every scenario.

With its low-level flight capability, the DT45 can play the role of a sea-skimming missile for challenging scenarios.

The Do-DT55neo is a remotely controlled high-speed aerial Target drone, designed to provide simulated air launched threats for surface-to-air, air-to-air and ship-to-air missile training and evaluation. It will be air-launched (split Target scenario) from the Do-DT25.

All Aerial Target platforms can be equipped with

• Wide range of augmentation payload (for infrared, radar, laser and visual)
• Specific operational payloads adding capabilities like
• Electronic Warfare Countermeasures (IR-Flares, active and passive RF),
• Electronic Warfare Jamming capabilities,
• Active Radar Emitter (airborne radar simulation),
• Low Level Kit for flights below 30ft,
• Identification Friend-Foe,
• Scoring/miss-distance indication (MDI) system detecting tactical hits. 

The DT family covers speed ranges from 100kts — 485kts (50 m/s — 250m/s).

All Airbus Target drones are equipped with an own developed state of the art flight control system, offering enhanced flight maneuvers like high dive, high g turns, escape maneuvers and providing flight robustness in terms of geo-fencing and multi Target 4D navigation.

Additional platforms

Rounding out the line-up, Airbus Do-SK6 is a towed Target and SETA-3 S1 sleeve target particularly suited to low cost gunnery and short-range air defence training, compatible with multiple types of host aircraft.

The Airbus drone family also offers the capability of an unmanned airborne test platform. Based on the full technical responsibility for the system and payload capacity, a save, flexible and cost-effective option for early flight testing is made available.

This also was shown recently when having the Do-DT25 as part of the AIRBUS Defence and Space 

• FCAS MUM-T Demonstrations, 
• A400M UAV Launcher,
• Automated Air to Air refueling verifications in Auto’Mate project,
• Health monitoring flight tests
• Support project MEASURE for German Weather Agency (DWD – Deutscher Wetterdienst)[1] 

For further information and more detailed information feel free to contact us at tss@airbus.com