EADS Talarion

EADS Talarion

Company type	Unmanned aerial vehicle project
Industry	Aerospace, Defense
Founded	2009
Headquarters	Europe
Products	Medium-altitude long-endurance unmanned aerial vehicle (MALE UAV)

The EADS Talarion represents a twinjet Medium-altitude long-endurance unmanned aerial vehicle (MALE UAV) developed by EADS to fulfill European military requirements in areas such as aerial reconnaissance, military intelligence, and aerial surveillance. Following completion of its preliminary design review, EADS is currently awaiting procurement commitments. Its designation is inspired by the Talaria, the winged footwear associated with the Greek deity Hermes.

Design and development

Unveiled initially as a full-scale mockup at the 2009 Paris Airshow, the Talarion is powered by two jet engines and features an approximate wingspan of 28 meters. The platform’s avionics suite is provided by Saab.

According to assessments by the French parliament, the overall program budget is estimated near EUR 2.9 billion, intended to support roughly 12 to 15 systems, each comprising three UAV units.

Collaboration with Turkish Aerospace Industries

In May 2011, a memorandum of understanding was signed between EADS Cassidian and Turkish suppliers led by Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI), integrating them into the project. TAI, possessing expertise in MALE UAVs and extended endurance systems, previously developed the comparable TAI Anka, which made its first appearance at the 2010 Farnborough Airshow and entered operational service with the Turkish Air Force in 2013.

Alliance with Alenia

December 2011 saw an announcement of cooperation between Cassidian and Alenia on MALE UAV initiatives, including involvement with the Talarion program.

Nevertheless, by February 2012, Cassidian intended to phase out the Talarion project after unsuccessful attempts to secure funding from prospective clients amid mounting competition and financial constraints within the European UAV sector.

Potential operators

In 2010, EADS voiced disappointment over the lack of firm commitments from France, Germany, Spain, and the United Kingdom regarding procurement of the Talarion. Conversely, other countries demonstrated possible interest; Turkey was anticipated to place orders, and Canada considered the Talarion among candidates for its UAV surveillance requirements. By January 2013, South Korea evaluated either the Talarion or the subsequently cancelled BAE Telemos as alternatives to the RQ-4 Global Hawk.

The BAE Telemos was also recognized as a rival contender against the Talarion for forthcoming European contracts.