Corax

Corax, the name meaning Raven in Latin, is one of a number of previously classified UAV and UCAV related technology demonstrator vehicles produced by BAE Systems as part of a four stage UAV demonstration programme started in 2001 in order to develop the company’s skills base in this burgeoning area.  The UAV was built under stage four of this project.

The highly unstable Corax was developed to study the control and performance of the design. Problems with pitch control of the similar Boeing/Lockheed DarkStar contributed to the loss of the vehicle in 1996; after studying the DarkStar BAE designed Corax with two control surfaces either side of the exhaust in order to give the aircraft a greater degree of pitch control.  

With an above fuselage air intake it seems likely that the design also takes into consideration some level of low observability (LO) although it does not appear to have been manufactured with the same degree of precision as BAE’s Raven, needed to take full advantage of the airframes stealthy shape and configuration, the use of radar absorbent materials is also not apparent.

Corax is a jet powered UAV with shrouded above fuselage intake, straight tapered wings, retractable tricycle landing gear with control surfaces aligned along the trailing edges of the wing. The dimensions of the aircraft have not been released however reports suggest that a wingspan in excess of 10m is likely. The materials used in the construction of the fuselage, which is also shared by the BAE Raven, are unknown however the wings use advanced next generation composites and were constructed at BAE Systems’ Samlesbury plant which is also responsible for the production of a number of parts for the Lockheed Martin F-35 Joint Strike Fighter.

Though developed using private funds Corax’s design is evidently closely aligned with the looming RAF requirement for a replacement for its Canberra PR9 reconnaissance aircraft.  Images of the UAV suggest a bias towards low speeds, high endurance and range, key requirements for any persistent ISTAR platform. In addition to EO payloads a production variant of Corax may also be capable of being fitted with conformal array radar antenna along the leading edges of its wings; however significant problems such as wing flexing may be a barrier to this. BAE Systems terms the aircraft a highly survivable, strategic, multi-role UAV system.

As with Raven, Corax is a fully autonomous vehicle sharing the same digital flight control system.

Corax first flew around 2003/2004 at the Woomera test range in Australia; trials continued until late 2005.

Specifications

Manufacturer – BAE Systems

Target Market (Military/ Civilian etc) – N/A

Type – Demonstrator

Role(s) –

Wingspan – 10 m +

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Cruise Speed –

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Recovery Method(s) –

External Links

www.baesystems.com