France accelerates surveillance drone innovation with national industry and advanced design
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According to information published by the French Ministry of the Armed Forces and leading defense industry sources on June 17, 2025, France has significantly reinforced its sovereign medium-altitude long-endurance (MALE) drone development capabilities by awarding public funding to five national aerospace firms during the Paris Air Show at Le Bourget. This strategic maneuver comes amid persistent delays in the multinational Eurodrone MALE RPAS program and reflects an accelerated push toward autonomous, certifiable unmanned aerial platforms tailored to the operational tempo of the French Armed Forces.Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link
Fly’R, led by former DGA chief Laurent Collet-Billon, is developing the R2-600, a MALE drone incorporating a rhomboid wing architecture that eliminates vertical surfaces, enhancing aerodynamic efficiency and stealth. (Picture source: Fly’R)
The Eurodrone program, a cooperative project led by Airbus, Dassault Aviation, and Leonardo under OCCAR, targets a maximum takeoff weight of 11 tons, a twin-turboprop configuration, and an operational envelope supporting ISR and strike missions with high endurance. Despite these ambitions, delivery has slipped to 2031, sparking parliamentary scrutiny and concerns over obsolescence. Minister of the Armed Forces Sébastien Lecornu has highlighted the risk of financial penalties and the imperative to secure drones aligned with current and future mission profiles.
In response, France has committed to a national industrial strategy centered on smaller, agile manufacturers. Turgis & Gaillard leads this new wave with the Aarok, a 5.5-ton MALE-class UCAV unveiled at Eurosatory 2023. With a 22-meter wingspan, 24 to 30 hours of endurance, and a 1.5-ton payload capacity, the Aarok is designed for full spectrum missions including ISR, maritime patrol, and strike. It is configured to carry a combination of AASM guided bombs, MMP/Akeron missiles, and maritime surveillance pods. Its certification path aligns with a “certifiable but non-certified” doctrine, enabling rapid fielding while preserving long-term regulatory compatibility.
Fly’R, led by former DGA chief Laurent Collet-Billon, is developing the R2-600, a MALE drone incorporating a rhomboid wing architecture that eliminates vertical surfaces, enhancing aerodynamic efficiency and stealth. The aircraft employs a hybrid propulsion system, significantly extending endurance and reducing acoustic and thermal signatures. Fly’R claims the rhomboid configuration doubles performance metrics, flight duration, speed, and payload, compared to conventional fixed-wing platforms of similar size.
SE Aviation is evolving the DRIADE platform into a maritime MALE drone optimized for littoral surveillance and anti-smuggling missions. It integrates Diadès Marine’s advanced airborne maritime radars and EO/IR suites, offering a detection range exceeding 150 km over water. The airframe, adapted for extended loitering and low-speed stability, targets operations from semi-prepared airstrips and naval platforms.Aura-AERO, in collaboration with Thales, Safran, and ARÉSIA, is developing the ENBATA drone. With a 2-ton maximum takeoff weight and 1-ton payload capacity, ENBATA uses a dual hybrid-electric propulsion system delivering up to 55 hours of flight time. It will support modular ISR payloads, SATCOM, and potentially electronic warfare systems. The first flight is projected for late 2026. ENBATA also benefits from advisory input by Gen. Stéphane Mille, former French Air and Space Force Chief, and Gen. Bruno Clermont.
Daher, although not yet disclosing technical details, is expected to leverage its composite manufacturing expertise and experience in STOL platforms for its MALE drone concept, which may integrate modular wings and rapid maintenance architecture suitable for expeditionary operations. The Direction Générale de l’Armement (DGA) emphasized that these initiatives embody a flexible, agile procurement model, with the goal of balancing cost, performance, and development timelines. This diversification strategy aims not only to serve immediate military requirements but also to boost France’s position in the global drone export market by offering varied and interoperable MALE-class solutions.
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According to information published by the French Ministry of the Armed Forces and leading defense industry sources on June 17, 2025, France has significantly reinforced its sovereign medium-altitude long-endurance (MALE) drone development capabilities by awarding public funding to five national aerospace firms during the Paris Air Show at Le Bourget. This strategic maneuver comes amid persistent delays in the multinational Eurodrone MALE RPAS program and reflects an accelerated push toward autonomous, certifiable unmanned aerial platforms tailored to the operational tempo of the French Armed Forces.
Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link
Fly’R, led by former DGA chief Laurent Collet-Billon, is developing the R2-600, a MALE drone incorporating a rhomboid wing architecture that eliminates vertical surfaces, enhancing aerodynamic efficiency and stealth. (Picture source: Fly’R)
The Eurodrone program, a cooperative project led by Airbus, Dassault Aviation, and Leonardo under OCCAR, targets a maximum takeoff weight of 11 tons, a twin-turboprop configuration, and an operational envelope supporting ISR and strike missions with high endurance. Despite these ambitions, delivery has slipped to 2031, sparking parliamentary scrutiny and concerns over obsolescence. Minister of the Armed Forces Sébastien Lecornu has highlighted the risk of financial penalties and the imperative to secure drones aligned with current and future mission profiles.
In response, France has committed to a national industrial strategy centered on smaller, agile manufacturers. Turgis & Gaillard leads this new wave with the Aarok, a 5.5-ton MALE-class UCAV unveiled at Eurosatory 2023. With a 22-meter wingspan, 24 to 30 hours of endurance, and a 1.5-ton payload capacity, the Aarok is designed for full spectrum missions including ISR, maritime patrol, and strike. It is configured to carry a combination of AASM guided bombs, MMP/Akeron missiles, and maritime surveillance pods. Its certification path aligns with a “certifiable but non-certified” doctrine, enabling rapid fielding while preserving long-term regulatory compatibility.
Fly’R, led by former DGA chief Laurent Collet-Billon, is developing the R2-600, a MALE drone incorporating a rhomboid wing architecture that eliminates vertical surfaces, enhancing aerodynamic efficiency and stealth. The aircraft employs a hybrid propulsion system, significantly extending endurance and reducing acoustic and thermal signatures. Fly’R claims the rhomboid configuration doubles performance metrics, flight duration, speed, and payload, compared to conventional fixed-wing platforms of similar size.
SE Aviation is evolving the DRIADE platform into a maritime MALE drone optimized for littoral surveillance and anti-smuggling missions. It integrates Diadès Marine’s advanced airborne maritime radars and EO/IR suites, offering a detection range exceeding 150 km over water. The airframe, adapted for extended loitering and low-speed stability, targets operations from semi-prepared airstrips and naval platforms.
Aura-AERO, in collaboration with Thales, Safran, and ARÉSIA, is developing the ENBATA drone. With a 2-ton maximum takeoff weight and 1-ton payload capacity, ENBATA uses a dual hybrid-electric propulsion system delivering up to 55 hours of flight time. It will support modular ISR payloads, SATCOM, and potentially electronic warfare systems. The first flight is projected for late 2026. ENBATA also benefits from advisory input by Gen. Stéphane Mille, former French Air and Space Force Chief, and Gen. Bruno Clermont.
Daher, although not yet disclosing technical details, is expected to leverage its composite manufacturing expertise and experience in STOL platforms for its MALE drone concept, which may integrate modular wings and rapid maintenance architecture suitable for expeditionary operations. The Direction Générale de l’Armement (DGA) emphasized that these initiatives embody a flexible, agile procurement model, with the goal of balancing cost, performance, and development timelines. This diversification strategy aims not only to serve immediate military requirements but also to boost France’s position in the global drone export market by offering varied and interoperable MALE-class solutions.
