"El Arenosillo" Test Range: Learnt Lessons from flight test for armament integration targets to UAVs tests

Antonio Mesa Fortún, Centro de Experimentación de "El Arenosillo" (CEDEA)
INTA, Mazagón-Huelva, Spain

Abstract

"El Arenosillo" test range (INTA/CEDEA) has been for fifty years the Official test Range for Spanish Ministry of Defence, in order to support all development programs for Military and Civil Aircrafts. According to the needs that have been requested by Industry and Government, CEDEA has been a Certification & Qualification test centre for Manned Aircrafts and their integrations systems. Furthermore it has been used for qualification and quality control by industry for aeronautical development systems. Its customers belong to Spanish and International Ministries of Defence and main Aeronautical Industries.

One of the main activities of INTA/CEDEA has been its wide experience for targets. For mentioned activities, ground, nautical and aerial targets has been used. Missiles, Rockets and Gun Bullets have been launched in its facilities. Integration armament for aircraft tests has been performed, qualification, performances, safe separation, etc. Technology is going to implement armament systems for UAVs. For this kind of activities, INTA/CEDEA has designed an expansion project, that it will be an international reference for UAVs tests. Its wide restricted air area and new capabilities to accommodate last generation UAVs, will be able to support armament integration tests for them and their integrated systems. It will be designated as an "Excelence Centre for Unmaned Systems"(CEUS). In pararell UAV platforms will be based and operative for tests, development and scientific purposes in CEUS facilities.