Optionally Piloted Aircraft

The Centaur is an optionally piloted aircraft (OPA) that combines the best of manned and unmanned aircraft capabilities boasting three modes of operation: manned, unmanned and augmented.

Centaur is an excellent solution for operations over controlled airspace, utilizing the high degree of safety and redundancy required for manned aircraft, with the payload capacity and flexibility of a large unmanned system.

Centaur can be operated from a remote ground control station. Both pilot and sensor operator stations can be staged onboard or remotely, allowing for a variety of flight configurations designed to meet multiple needs including long endurance, hazardous operating environments and the highest level of safety and reliability.

Developed from the Diamond DA42 Multi Purpose Platform, Centaur provides a versatile, flexible airborne sensing platform with exceptional range, high efficiency and extremely low life cycle cost for a range of mission types including: defense, intelligence, law enforcement and science.

Based on a certified twin-engine general aviation aircraft, Centaur’s triplex FCS, dual redundant primary flight controls, and automated contingency management system make it a highly reliable platform.

The Hybrid flight mode simplifies operations with the National Airspace, minimizing or eliminating the need for costly deployments to remote test sites.

Centaur is an ideal platform for testing new technologies, including payloads and advanced autonomous technologies, and for conducting flight services in the NAS.