SAN LUIS, Argentina -- The Argentine Ministry of Defense reports that it has conducted flight tests of its Aukán Class 1 remotely piloted vehicle, with the aim of advancing the tasks aimed at the automatic control of the aircraft and the integration with the Terrestrial Control Station.
Within the framework of the Argentine Air Force Remotely Piloted Aerial Systems (SART in Spanish) project, a flight test campaign of the Class 1 prototype was carried out, during which it flew on the airfield of the V Villa Reynolds Air Brigade, located at the province of San Luis, Argentina.
The tests carried out had a level of complexity that was increased in successive stages for the fulfillment of the automatic flight, both in the takeoff, the navigation, the approach, and the landing.
The team conducting the test was composed of members of the Directorate General of Research and Development (DGID) with its Center for Applied Research (CIA) and Flight Test Center (CEV); the School of Military Aviation (EAM); and the SART Operating Squad (dependent on the Aerospace Recognition Group of the II Paraná Air Brigade).
Argentina is testing two UAVs: the Aukán lightweight UAV and Vigia II medium-size UAV. The Aucan is intended to train personnel, while the Vigia II will conduct operational missions. Tests of both drones took place in October 2016 and April 2017. The Aukán has now been tested in March 2018 as well.