Dassault LOGIDUC
Encyclopedia
The Dassault LOGIDUC -sometimes spelled Logiduc in French and LogiDuc in English- (Logique de Développement d'UCAV, French for "Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicle development solution") was an autonomous industrial program launched in 1999 by the French aircraft manufacturer Dassault Aviation
in view to develop its UAV
design capacities. This French programme eventually led to the creation of the Dassault-Sagem Tactical UAV company and to the European "combat drone" project nEUROn
.
The LOGIDUC program consisted of a series of three stealth aerial vehicles, from scale 1/100 to 1/1, in view to collect data required by the production of a fighter-sized stealth UCLAV type supporting the Dassault Rafale
in the 2010s and to design autonomous stealth fighters primary used by the French Air Force circa 2025.
The two first vehicles, AVE-D and AVE-C, are scale model 1/100 (50kg) and 1/10 (500kg) stealth "tactical drones" (UAV), while the final version
was to be a full scale (5,000kg) prototype stealth "combat drone" (UCAV).
Each vehicle was given an owl name as "Duc" ("duke") is the French name of a nocturnal bird of prey
specie known in Latin
as Otus
aka Scops owl
. Petit Duc ("small duke") stands for Scops Owl
, Moyen Duc ("medium duke") stands for Long-eared Owl
and Grand Duc ("large duke") is Eagle Owl
. Other Dassault aircraft with bird names are the Dassault MD 315 Flamant
(Flamingo
) and the Dassault Falcon
(Falcon
) family.
LOGIDUC was a 3-step program with the following aims:
Dassault Aviation
Dassault Aviation is a French aircraft manufacturer of military, regional and business jets, a subsidiary of Dassault Group.It was founded in 1930 by Marcel Bloch as Société des Avions Marcel Bloch or "MB". After World War II, Marcel Bloch changed his name to Marcel Dassault, and the name of the...
in view to develop its UAV
Unmanned aerial vehicle
An unmanned aerial vehicle , also known as a unmanned aircraft system , remotely piloted aircraft or unmanned aircraft, is a machine which functions either by the remote control of a navigator or pilot or autonomously, that is, as a self-directing entity...
design capacities. This French programme eventually led to the creation of the Dassault-Sagem Tactical UAV company and to the European "combat drone" project nEUROn
Neuron
A neuron is an electrically excitable cell that processes and transmits information by electrical and chemical signaling. Chemical signaling occurs via synapses, specialized connections with other cells. Neurons connect to each other to form networks. Neurons are the core components of the nervous...
.
The LOGIDUC program consisted of a series of three stealth aerial vehicles, from scale 1/100 to 1/1, in view to collect data required by the production of a fighter-sized stealth UCLAV type supporting the Dassault Rafale
Dassault Rafale
The Dassault Rafale is a French twin-engine delta-wing multi-role jet fighter aircraft designed and built by Dassault Aviation. Introduced in 2000, the Rafale is being produced both for land-based use with the French Air Force and for carrier-based operations with the French Navy...
in the 2010s and to design autonomous stealth fighters primary used by the French Air Force circa 2025.
The two first vehicles, AVE-D and AVE-C, are scale model 1/100 (50kg) and 1/10 (500kg) stealth "tactical drones" (UAV), while the final version
Dassault AVE Grand Duc
The Dassault AVE Grand Duc was an experimental stealth UAV planned for development in France in the early 21st century as the final step towards the development of a UCAV under Dassault Aviation's LOGIDUC programme...
was to be a full scale (5,000kg) prototype stealth "combat drone" (UCAV).
Each vehicle was given an owl name as "Duc" ("duke") is the French name of a nocturnal bird of prey
Bird of prey
Birds of prey are birds that hunt for food primarily on the wing, using their keen senses, especially vision. They are defined as birds that primarily hunt vertebrates, including other birds. Their talons and beaks tend to be relatively large, powerful and adapted for tearing and/or piercing flesh....
specie known in Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
as Otus
Otus
Otus may refer to:* Erol Otus , American artist* HMS Otus, two ships in the Royal Navy* Otus , a genus of owls* Otus , a giant in Greek mythology* Otus of Cyllene, a hero in Greek mythology...
aka Scops owl
Scops owl
Scops owls are Strigidae belong to the genus Otus. Approximately 45 living species are known, but new ones are frequently recognized and unknown ones are still being discovered every few years or so, especially in Indonesia...
. Petit Duc ("small duke") stands for Scops Owl
European Scops Owl
The European Scops Owl , also known as the Eurasian Scops Owl or just Scops Owl, is a small owl. This species is a part of the larger grouping of owls known as typical owls, Strigidae, which contains most species of owl. The other grouping is the barn owls, Tytonidae.This bird breeds in southern...
, Moyen Duc ("medium duke") stands for Long-eared Owl
Long-eared Owl
The Long-eared Owl - Asio otus is a species of owl which breeds in Europe, Asia, and North America. This species is a part of the larger grouping of owls known as typical owls, family Strigidae, which contains most species of owl...
and Grand Duc ("large duke") is Eagle Owl
Eurasian Eagle Owl
The Eurasian Eagle-Owl is a species of eagle owl resident in much of Eurasia. It is also one of the largest types of owls.-Description:The Eagle Owl is a large and powerful bird, smaller than the Golden Eagle but larger than the Snowy Owl...
. Other Dassault aircraft with bird names are the Dassault MD 315 Flamant
Dassault MD 315 Flamant
|-See also:-References:NotesBibliography*Bridgman, Leonard Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1953-54. London:Jane's, 1953....
(Flamingo
Flamingo
Flamingos or flamingoes are gregarious wading birds in the genus Phoenicopterus , the only genus in the family Phoenicopteridae...
) and the Dassault Falcon
Dassault Falcon
The Dassault Falcon is a family of business jets, manufactured by Dassault Aviation.Aircraft include:* Dassault Falcon 10 Scaled down Falcon 20...
(Falcon
Falcon
A falcon is any species of raptor in the genus Falco. The genus contains 37 species, widely distributed throughout Europe, Asia, and North America....
) family.
LOGIDUC was a 3-step program with the following aims:
- Mastering stealth aircraft design.
- Confronting stealth aircraft to modern air-to-air combat systems.
- Confronting stealth aircraft to modern ground-to-air combat systems.
- Experimenting unstable yaw aircraft control methods.
- Grand DucDassault NeuronThe Dassault nEUROn is an experimental Unmanned Combat Air Vehicle being developed with international cooperation, led by the French company Dassault Aviation.-Description:...
:
- Grand Duc
- Acquiring full mission system representativity.
- Acquiring composite pack airborne control.
- Acquiring collaborative flight with drones and aircraft.
- Acquiring live air-to-ground weapon release.
Media links
- video: AVE-D Petit Duc test flight, 2000 (Aviation Design/Dassault Aviation)
- video: AVE-C Moyen Duc flight (also AVE-D Petit Duc escorting a Rafale), January 2004 (Pascal Fellous/Dassault Aviation)
- video: AVE-C, AVE-D & nEUROn design and flight, Dassault Activities (Dassault Aviation)
- video: nEUROn (AVE Grand Duc vers.) promotional featurette, June 11, 2005 (Dassault Aviation)