EADS selects Meggitt fire detection for ATLANTE

Meggitt Safety Systems, a Meggitt group company, has been selected by EADS Military Air Systems to supply fire and overheat detectors for the ATLANTE long-endurance unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). The UAV will perform intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition and reconnaissance missions.

Meggitt's extreme environment technology will be installed to detect aircraft engine fire and overheat conditions. The high reliability pneumatic detector system, with more than 500 million unit-hours of flight service on commercial and military aircraft platforms, will meet the requirements of this extreme environment aircraft: ATLANTE is to be capable of operating 24 hours a day, in any meteorological condition and taking off from unprepared runways or launchers before being recovered by parachute.

Gary Zamieroski, VP, Marketing, Sales & Strategy, commented: "This development represents a very promising marketing opportunity for our virtually indestructible detectors. UAVs are a critical element of maritime and terrestrial surveillance worldwide and the outlook for the ATLANTE system is very positive in line with rising demand for UAVs overall."