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Urban Aeronautics finalize business partner in India

New Delhi, India, Feb16, 2008: India's Tata Advanced Systems said on Saturday it planned to form a partnership with an arm of European plane-maker EADS to bid for the Indian Army's $1 billion (509 million pounds) tactical communications system project.

Founded by Dr. Rafi Yoeli, Urban Aeronautics has established an early lead in developing technology that will enable a family of Vertical Take Off and Landing (VTOL) aircraft with no exposed rotors.

The entire family of Fancraft™ that would be developed using this technology is uniquely suited to flying and operating inside of complex urban and natural environments.The Fancraft™ technology developed at UrbanAero could result in a number of operational vehicles in various markets.

Currently in development at UrbanAero are technology demonstrators in three sizes: X-Hawk, a manned, twin turbine powered FAA certifiable version with a capacity of 12 persons including the pilot; Panda, a small, electrically powered surveillance aircraft; MULE, a single turbine powered unmanned aircraft for military re-supply and Medical Evacuation (MedEvac) operations with a payload capacity of 250 kilograms.

A Tata Advanced Systems spokesperson, said: "Tata Advanced Systems is pleased to be associated with Urban Aeronautics, which is developing innovative unmanned vehicles based on its patented Fancraft™ technology. We believe these unmanned vehicles can have multiple applications for defence and civilian applications in India".

Dr. Rafi Yoeli, Urban Aeronautics’s Founder & CEO, said, "We believe that there could be no better partner for our future business in India than Tata Advanced Systems. We are extremely pleased to have joined forces with Tata to exhibit this unique technology, with the plan of eventually being able to bring the Fancraft™ revolution to the Indian market".

Source: Defenseworld.net