Dassault AVE-C Moyen Duc

AVE-C Moyen Duc
Role	UCAV development aircraft
National origin	France
Manufacturer	Dassault
First flight	ca. September 2004
Developed into	Dassault-Sagem SlowFast

The Dassault AVE-C Moyen Duc was a sub-scale experimental stealth UAV built in France in 2004 as a step in the development of a UCAV under Dassault Aviation's LOGIDUC programme. AVE-C stands for Aéronef de Validation Expérimentale - Contrôle ("Experimental Assessment Aircraft - Control"), and Moyen Duc is the French name for the Long-eared Owl, but also a wordplay on the LOGIDUC programme name, with moyen meaning "middle". As the AVE-D was designed by Dassault according to a rapid prototyping to cost methodology, the AVE-C was developed and completed within a year and the first prototype was produced in July 2001.

The AVE-C is a stealth tactical UAV prototype developed according to the French Army's post-SDTI needs in reconnaissance. In 2002, Dassault planned to create an industrial partnership with French electronic company Sagem. The company was founded the following year as Dassault-Sagem Tactical UAV with the purpose to mass produce the Moyen Duc ^[1]. The 2004 tactical UAV Dassault-Sagem SlowFast is based on the Moyen Duc, with the Sagem Sperwer's ground control station, and will be used by the French Army^[2].

Specifications

General characteristics

• Crew: None
• Gross weight: 500 kg (1,100 lb)

Performance

• Endurance: 4 hours

References

1. ^ Dassault-Sagem tactical UAV company creation
2. ^ The SlowFast TUAV : A New Tactical Drone Concept