GAF Turana

The GAF Turana was a target drone produced by the Australian Government Aircraft Factories (GAF). The name is believed to be from an Aboriginal Australian word meaning rainbow.

Turana
Role Target Drone
National origin Australia
Manufacturer Government Aircraft Factories
First flight August 1971
Primary user Royal Australian Navy
Produced late 1960s - 1979
Number built 23
Developed from Ikara (missile)

The Turana target drone was designed and built in Australia as a development of the Ikara anti-submarine weapon system. It was a target drone with remote control that was launched from the Ikara launcher for use in naval anti-aircraft target practice.[1][2]

Design and development

The Turana had a composite metal/fibre glass structure and was powered by a Microturbo Cougar 022 Turbojet.[lower-alpha 1][3]

The Turana was first flown from Woomera in August 1971.[3] The program was cancelled in 1979 as water ingress during recovery of the drone was causing failure of the electronics.[4]

See also

Notes
  1. The engine was designed so that it can be reused for at least 10 flights even after being submerged in water for an hour before being recovered

References
  1. "GAF Turana Guided Missile". Museum Victoria. Museum Victoria. Retrieved 15 April 2019.
  2. "RAN GAF Turana". ADF-SERIALS.
  3. "Successful Turana First Flight". Flight International. 19 August 1971. p. 305.
  4. "Tracer". Flight International. 20 October 1979. p. 1267.

Further reading
  • Dennis, Peter; Grey, Jeffrey; Morris, Ewan; Prior, Robin; Jean Bou (2008). The Oxford Companion to Australian Military History (Second ed.). Melbourne: Oxford University Press. ISBN 9780195517842.
  • Taylor, John W.R., ed. (1980). Jane's all the World's Aircraft 1980–81. London: Jane's Publishing Co. ISBN 0-7106-0705-9.
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