Neuron is the European unmanned combat air vehicle (UCAV) demonstrator for the development, integration and validation of UCAV technologies, and is not for military operational deployment.
By the end of 2005, the governments of France, Greece, Italy, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland had agreed to invest in the Neuron programme.
The coordinator and head of Neuron’s design process is the Greek Zaira Riga, who coordinated the construction of the Greek parts of Neuron.
The main aim of the Neuron programme is to sustain and develop European manufacturers’ aeronautic and other technologies for next-generation combat aircraft and UAVs.
In March 2004, the Hellenic Aerospace Industry (HAI) and Dassault signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on the Dassault UCAV programme, which became the Neuron programme. Under the terms of the MoU, HAI is responsible for the engine exhaust, the rear fuselage section and the test rig. The rear fuselage section was delivered to Dassault Aviation in January 2011.
The air vehicle fuselage length and the wingspan are approximately 10 meters. The empty weight of the air vehicle is around 4,500kg, and with a full payload the weight will be about 6,000kg. The air vehicle has tricycle-type landing gear for runway take-off and landing.
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