(Corrects German spyplane wingspan in third paragraph to 9-metre from 90-metre)

LE BOURGET, France, June 22 (Reuters) - EADS (EAD.PA: Quote, Profile, Research) plans to develop unmanned spyplanes for the French, German and Spanish military to go into operation by the middle of the next decade, the European aerospace and defence company said on Friday.

EADS will create two versions of the twinjet aircraft, dubbed Advanced UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle), for use in surveillance and reconnaissance missions, the company said at the Paris air show.

France and Spain need a wide surveillance spyplane, which will fly at up to 50,000 feet with a wingspan of around 25 metres, while Germany requires a faster reconnaissance version, with a 9-metre wingspan and speed of about 380 knots.

"This decision is an important milestone to realise a future-oriented and truly European military programme," EADS defence chief Stefan Zoller said in a statement.

The Franco-German company also plans to share some of the work on the project with Spain's Indra (IDR.MC: Quote, Profile, Research) and French defence electronics group Thales (TCFP.PA: Quote, Profile, Research).

News of Thales' cooperation with EADS comes a week after Dassault Aviation (AVMD.PA: Quote, Profile, Research) said it was teaming up with the French firm to develop unmanned aircraft after efforts to co-operate with EADS on the "EuroMale" drone broke down.

Dassault said it would involve Swedish, Italian, Greek and Spanish firms already working with Dassault on the Neuron combat drone project, in which EADS is also a partner.

EADS said earlier this year it also planned to build a new unmanned aircraft test model to demonstrate technology after its Barracuda prototype crashed into the sea off Spain in September when a software error caused it to land prematurely. The new demonstrator would be codenamed Agile UAV.

Technology from the Barracuda would also be used in developing the Advanced UAV.EADS's Zoller has said he wants to build up the company's defence business to underpin earnings at the firm that generates most of sales from planemaker Airbus, where profits have been hit by problems with the A380 superjumbo project.

UAVs are a key plank in that strategy, and he hopes to secure a fifth of the global market potential of 10 billion euros ($13.40 billion) through 2010 as the European company attempts to match U.S. and Israeli prowess in the building of spyplanes. ($1=.7463 Euro)

Why are we investing in a UAV with EADS when we already are investing in a stealth UCAV with Dassault?? Is it designated for recon only? what if it sees a target of opportunity? :doubt:

and something else...let them buy firts spare parts for the Sperwer..and than we talk about something so important...