RAN N28 BAE MQM-107E Kalkara

Kalkara Image Gallery

After nearly four years of trials and operations, a Kalkara successfully flew mission 100 on Thursday March 27,2006 from Gilbert Point at HMAS Stirling while the  Kalkara Flight was conducting development trials and providing aerial targets to ships missile systems.

The Kalkara Unmanned Aerial Target System (UATS) achieved the Operational Release (OR) on August 10,2006.

During the OR process the Kalkara system was awarded an Australian Military Type Certificate (AMTC) and became the first UAV in the world to successfully achieve a full AMTC in August 2000. Today most UAV/UAT systems in the world follow the Kalkara example and hold an AMTC or equivalent for their country of operation.

The Kalkara proved to be a valuable asset to the ADF as it was the target system used for the introduction of at least three missile systems into the AF including ASRAAM and AMRAAM for the RAAF, and ESSM for the RAN.

The Kalkara system was to be the last fixed wing aircraft to be owned and operated by the RAN.

Launched using rocket-assisted take-off from a cradle, Kalkara was been operated from basic facilities in locations on Australia s East and West coasts working for Navy. It has also been operated at the Air Weapons Range in Woomera in inland South Australia for work with the RAAF fighter force.

The Kalkara was capable of operation between 100 feet and 40,000 feet and its top speed is Mach 0.86. Depending on it planned flight profile, its endurance was about 30 to 60 minutes.

With a 6-G manoeuvre limit and low-level speed of around 360 knots, Kalkara could simulate missile and aircraft profiles that challenge the ships and fighter aircraft weapon systems and operators alike. Although Kalkara was normally fitted with a variety of towed targets from the HUTTS target family or could be fired at directly while being manoeuvred.