The Tarpa 1000 program was successfully completed: remote control, underwing loading and ammunition release on the Sky Arrow aircraft. The results of the experimentation will now be submitted to the Aeronautical Armaments and Airworthiness Directorate (DAAA), which commissioned the activity and supervised its implementation on a technical-operational and Military Airworthiness level.
"Magnaghi Aircraft has successfully completed the in-flight testing campaign on its Sky Arrow aerial platform, demonstrating in the field the full feasibility of three key capabilities: the remote control of flight controls, the integration of an underwing loading point for the transport of armament and the guided release of the ammunition in the range. Thus the all-Italian research program TARPA 1000 (Technologies for Armed Remote Piloted Aircraft class MTOW) concludes with a positive outcome. 1000Kg), co-financed by the Defense Administration as part of the National Military Research Projects (PNRM) and dedicated to the development of technologies for remotely piloted armed aircraft within a maximum take-off weight of 1,000 kg". This was communicated in a note by Magnaghi Aircraft, a company 100% controlled by MAGROUP Magnaghi Aerospace created with the mission of relaunching the group's activities in the aircraft sector, which led the program as group leader of a Temporary Purpose Association (ATS) including Leonardo (formerly Oto Melara), IDS-Ingegneria dei Sistemi and Umbra Group.
The demonstration flight
"Today's demonstration flight - explains Engineer Roberto Merico, project manager - represents a further step in a path that aims at technological innovation and confirms the potential of this platform as a 'technological demonstrator'. Sky Arrow is in fact configured as an experimental platform on which Magnaghi will continue to develop, integrate and test frontier technologies - from quantum technologies to blockchain, from artificial intelligence algorithms to advanced digital applications - with the aim of enabling new services and capabilities in the domains of pilot training and aerial working. This path of innovation will also pave the way for the evolution of the platform towards unmanned configurations, significantly expanding its potential for use and enabling new applications in multiple industrial and operational sectors".
The Sky Arrow aircraft
Starting from the Sky Arrow aircraft, for which Magnaghi holds the Type Certificate issued by EASA, the experimentation developed through progressive phases. After having successfully concluded the checks on the remote control of the controls and the stability of the aircraft in the underwing load configuration, the test campaign took place in the first half of November at the Interforce Polygon of Salto di Quirra (PISQ). During the flights, the full functioning of the Datalink between the munition and the ground station was verified, allowing real-time trajectory tracking for the analysis of inertial characteristics and autonomous driving systems via GPS. All operations were carried out under the complete control of PISQ staff, in strict compliance with environmental protection protocols. The results of the experimentation will now be submitted to the Aeronautical Armaments and Airworthiness Directorate (DAAA), which commissioned the activity and supervised its implementation on a technical-operational and Military Airworthiness level.
An important signal of industrial relaunch for the Group
"The conclusion of the TARPA 1000 program - explains Engineer Guglielmo Maviglia, Chief Operating Officer of MAGROUP Magnaghi Aerospace - represents an important signal of industrial relaunch for the Group. With over 200 examples already operational globally in basic training, smart farming and border control roles, the Sky Arrow platform now demonstrates concrete potential also for specific military and security needs, thanks to its high reliability, low acquisition and management costs and simplicity of training for pilots and maintainers. We recently signed contracts at the Farnborough International Air Show for the sale of a further three Sky Arrow aircraft in the various existing versions. The processes and tests for the Type Certification of the new Sky Arrow 710 model, with greater autonomy and increased load capacity, are also in an advanced state of definition, and is also leading to the start of negotiations for global distribution agreements and for the creation of Joint-Venture aimed at producing aircraft directly in partner countries, under the guidance and control of Magnaghi Aircraft".
