Aeronautics boosts production rate for unmanned Dominator

Aeronautics Defense Systems has increased its production rate for the Dominator XP unmanned air system (UAS), with eight examples currently in different stages of work.

Flightglobal visited the Israeli company's production line on 2 January, when six Dominator XPs were in production. Company president Avi Leumi said that in total eight aircraft are now being prepared for delivery, with two of these involved in flight tests.

Aeronautics secured its first export contract for the Dominator XP in mid-2011, shortly after the model had been cleared for sale by the Israeli defence ministry. This followed adaptations made to the UAS to comply with the international Missile Technology Control Regime.

Based on the twin-engined Diamond DA42, the Dominator XP has a maximum take-off weight of 2,000kg (4,405lb), including a 300kg payload. The aircraft is capable of achieving an endurance of 28h. Aimed at the high end of the medium-altitude, long-endurance UAS market, the design can fly at an altitude of up to 30,000ft (9,150m) and has a top speed of 190kt (350km/h).

Leumi said the potential for the unmanned system is "very big", and forecast the sale of a "few dozen" examples within the next five years.


Source: By Arie Egozi Tel Aviv - 09 January 2012 - Flightglobal News (www.flightglobal.com)

Photo: The Israeli Defence Technology Diamond DA42 Sensing Dominator XP UAV (Photo by © Aeronautics Defense Systems)

(9.01.2012)