Delair expands DT46 drone family with hybrid and hydrogen variants for extended-range missions
{loadposition bannertop}
{loadposition sidebarpub}
At the 2025 International Paris Air Show, Delair introduced two new configurations of its DT46 tactical drone system, expanding its capabilities in terms of propulsion and endurance. The first is a rechargeable hybrid-electric version developed under the DOC HR project in collaboration with Ascendance, a French company specializing in hybrid propulsion through its STERNA system. The second is a hydrogen-powered variant associated with European Commission initiatives under the Directorate General for Defence Industry and Space.Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link
The DT46’s hybrid variant, named DT46 DOC HR, allows the drone to alternate between low-speed electric flight for stealth and energy efficiency, and faster phases when required. (Picture source: Army Recognition)
Both versions aim to enhance the DT46’s ability to conduct long-range observation missions on land and at sea in both civilian and military settings. These developments mark a continuation of Delair’s dual-use approach and follow prior deployments of the DT46 in security, defense, medical logistics, and geospatial inspection contexts.
The DT46’s hybrid variant was specifically developed to address the operational needs of the French Defence Procurement Agency’s missile test center (DGA Essais de Missiles). Supported by the Agence de l’innovation de défense and coordinated through the Alienor innovation hub, Delair and Ascendance produced a demonstrator equipped with the STERNA hybrid propulsion module. This module enables in-flight recharging of the UAV’s batteries and increases the VTOL endurance from 3 hours and 30 minutes to more than 5 hours and 30 minutes. This performance enhancement allows the drone to alternate between low-speed electric flight for stealth and energy efficiency, and faster phases when required. Qualification flights are scheduled to take place in Biscarrosse before delivery to the DGA later in 2025. The hybrid variant is also being considered for maritime surveillance missions currently performed by patrol boats, given its ability to travel longer distances in a shorter time.
Since 2024, the DT46 has also been evaluated by the French Army’s Section Technique de l’Armée de Terre (STAT) as part of an effort to accelerate the adoption of rapidly-deployable drone technologies. Two complete systems, comprising two airframes, two ground control stations, and one antenna, were delivered to the STAT. Following the completion of the tactical evaluation phase (EVTA), the Army is now verifying performance, logistical sustainability, and maintenance aspects. The drone is intended to support artillery regiments by complementing existing SMDR systems, particularly within surveillance and acquisition batteries. It features dual propulsion configurations with detachable vertical lift arms enabling VTOL operation and ramp-assisted takeoff for fixed-wing use. The VTOL configuration provides a flight time of 3 hours and 30 minutes, while the fixed-wing mode extends endurance to around 7 hours, with a communication range of up to 100 kilometers secured by AES-256 encryption and anti-jamming protocols.
The DT46 is equipped with standardized NATO-compliant STANAG 4609 video and metadata transmission capabilities, making it interoperable with fire control systems such as ATLAS and the SCORPION combat information system. It can be operated from the DRAKO ground control station, which was introduced at Eurosatory 2024. This new control unit supports simultaneous operation of various drones and loitering munitions from multiple manufacturers and is designed for networked and scalable tactical environments. The STAT plans to use this evaluation to inform procurement decisions through the French Ministry of the Armed Forces’ existing contractual framework, coordinated by the Direction de la maintenance aéronautique (DMAé). This contract enables acquisition of certified, shelf-available tactical drones from Thales, EOS Technologie, Survey Copter, and Delair. A separate five-year contract managed by Flying Eye has already facilitated acquisition of the two STAT evaluation systems.
The DT46 has also been selected by the French Gendarmerie Nationale, which announced in May 2025 that it would integrate the drone into its operational units from summer 2025 onwards. This decision followed successful trials by the Medium Endurance Drone Experimentation Section (SEDAME). The system will expand the Gendarmerie’s surveillance capabilities by providing long-endurance reconnaissance, both real-time and post-event, across large or difficult-to-access areas. The procurement supports the modernization of airborne assets and aligns with the objective of relying on French-produced systems to improve technological independence. The DT46 is expected to be used in coordination with ground units and provides rapid deployment and recovery from various terrains.
In addition to defense and security, the DT46 is used in civilian applications. On 16 January 2024, the Canadian nonprofit clinical research organization ECOGENE-21 successfully completed a 150-kilometer flight using the DT46 to deliver medication and collect biological samples in remote regions as part of a decentralized clinical trial. Supported by Toulouse Métropole, Aerospace Valley, and Quebec’s CRIAQ, the project aimed to address logistical challenges for patients in isolated communities. The DT46 was selected for its payload capacity, endurance, and ability to operate in challenging environments. According to project members, integrating UAVs into the clinical supply chain could improve patient access to experimental treatments. Delair considers this experiment aligned with its broader goal of promoting dual-use UAV capabilities for both civilian and defense tasks.
Delair also introduced the DT46 LiDAR variant at INTERGEO 2024 in cooperation with YellowScan. This configuration combines YellowScan’s Voyager LiDAR with a high-resolution RGB camera to support long-distance inspection and the creation of high-precision digital twins. The DT46’s design, flight time, and modular payload bay allow it to perform topographic surveys, infrastructure assessments, and security-related mapping missions. With automated deployment under 15 minutes, modular VTOL or fixed-wing options, and field-swappable payloads, the DT46 is designed for mobile operations and low-footprint deployment. It complies with BVLOS operational standards including ARP 4561 and DO-178, features a redundant communication system with cellular VPN support, includes an emergency parachute, and offers payload integration such as EO/IR gimbals, LiDAR+RGB sensors, IMSI catchers, and open interfaces. Operating in temperatures between -15°C and +50°C and wind speeds up to 35 knots, the DT46 remains transportable in a pickup vehicle and adaptable to varied mission profiles. Delair, founded in 2011 and based in Toulouse, operates in over 70 countries and had a turnover exceeding €10 million in 2023, with the objective of becoming Europe’s leading drone manufacturer by 2030.
{loadposition bannertop}
{loadposition sidebarpub}
At the 2025 International Paris Air Show, Delair introduced two new configurations of its DT46 tactical drone system, expanding its capabilities in terms of propulsion and endurance. The first is a rechargeable hybrid-electric version developed under the DOC HR project in collaboration with Ascendance, a French company specializing in hybrid propulsion through its STERNA system. The second is a hydrogen-powered variant associated with European Commission initiatives under the Directorate General for Defence Industry and Space.
Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link
The DT46’s hybrid variant, named DT46 DOC HR, allows the drone to alternate between low-speed electric flight for stealth and energy efficiency, and faster phases when required. (Picture source: Army Recognition)
Both versions aim to enhance the DT46’s ability to conduct long-range observation missions on land and at sea in both civilian and military settings. These developments mark a continuation of Delair’s dual-use approach and follow prior deployments of the DT46 in security, defense, medical logistics, and geospatial inspection contexts.
The DT46’s hybrid variant was specifically developed to address the operational needs of the French Defence Procurement Agency’s missile test center (DGA Essais de Missiles). Supported by the Agence de l’innovation de défense and coordinated through the Alienor innovation hub, Delair and Ascendance produced a demonstrator equipped with the STERNA hybrid propulsion module. This module enables in-flight recharging of the UAV’s batteries and increases the VTOL endurance from 3 hours and 30 minutes to more than 5 hours and 30 minutes. This performance enhancement allows the drone to alternate between low-speed electric flight for stealth and energy efficiency, and faster phases when required. Qualification flights are scheduled to take place in Biscarrosse before delivery to the DGA later in 2025. The hybrid variant is also being considered for maritime surveillance missions currently performed by patrol boats, given its ability to travel longer distances in a shorter time.
Since 2024, the DT46 has also been evaluated by the French Army’s Section Technique de l’Armée de Terre (STAT) as part of an effort to accelerate the adoption of rapidly-deployable drone technologies. Two complete systems, comprising two airframes, two ground control stations, and one antenna, were delivered to the STAT. Following the completion of the tactical evaluation phase (EVTA), the Army is now verifying performance, logistical sustainability, and maintenance aspects. The drone is intended to support artillery regiments by complementing existing SMDR systems, particularly within surveillance and acquisition batteries. It features dual propulsion configurations with detachable vertical lift arms enabling VTOL operation and ramp-assisted takeoff for fixed-wing use. The VTOL configuration provides a flight time of 3 hours and 30 minutes, while the fixed-wing mode extends endurance to around 7 hours, with a communication range of up to 100 kilometers secured by AES-256 encryption and anti-jamming protocols.
The DT46 is equipped with standardized NATO-compliant STANAG 4609 video and metadata transmission capabilities, making it interoperable with fire control systems such as ATLAS and the SCORPION combat information system. It can be operated from the DRAKO ground control station, which was introduced at Eurosatory 2024. This new control unit supports simultaneous operation of various drones and loitering munitions from multiple manufacturers and is designed for networked and scalable tactical environments. The STAT plans to use this evaluation to inform procurement decisions through the French Ministry of the Armed Forces’ existing contractual framework, coordinated by the Direction de la maintenance aéronautique (DMAé). This contract enables acquisition of certified, shelf-available tactical drones from Thales, EOS Technologie, Survey Copter, and Delair. A separate five-year contract managed by Flying Eye has already facilitated acquisition of the two STAT evaluation systems.
The DT46 has also been selected by the French Gendarmerie Nationale, which announced in May 2025 that it would integrate the drone into its operational units from summer 2025 onwards. This decision followed successful trials by the Medium Endurance Drone Experimentation Section (SEDAME). The system will expand the Gendarmerie’s surveillance capabilities by providing long-endurance reconnaissance, both real-time and post-event, across large or difficult-to-access areas. The procurement supports the modernization of airborne assets and aligns with the objective of relying on French-produced systems to improve technological independence. The DT46 is expected to be used in coordination with ground units and provides rapid deployment and recovery from various terrains.
In addition to defense and security, the DT46 is used in civilian applications. On 16 January 2024, the Canadian nonprofit clinical research organization ECOGENE-21 successfully completed a 150-kilometer flight using the DT46 to deliver medication and collect biological samples in remote regions as part of a decentralized clinical trial. Supported by Toulouse Métropole, Aerospace Valley, and Quebec’s CRIAQ, the project aimed to address logistical challenges for patients in isolated communities. The DT46 was selected for its payload capacity, endurance, and ability to operate in challenging environments. According to project members, integrating UAVs into the clinical supply chain could improve patient access to experimental treatments. Delair considers this experiment aligned with its broader goal of promoting dual-use UAV capabilities for both civilian and defense tasks.
Delair also introduced the DT46 LiDAR variant at INTERGEO 2024 in cooperation with YellowScan. This configuration combines YellowScan’s Voyager LiDAR with a high-resolution RGB camera to support long-distance inspection and the creation of high-precision digital twins. The DT46’s design, flight time, and modular payload bay allow it to perform topographic surveys, infrastructure assessments, and security-related mapping missions. With automated deployment under 15 minutes, modular VTOL or fixed-wing options, and field-swappable payloads, the DT46 is designed for mobile operations and low-footprint deployment. It complies with BVLOS operational standards including ARP 4561 and DO-178, features a redundant communication system with cellular VPN support, includes an emergency parachute, and offers payload integration such as EO/IR gimbals, LiDAR+RGB sensors, IMSI catchers, and open interfaces. Operating in temperatures between -15°C and +50°C and wind speeds up to 35 knots, the DT46 remains transportable in a pickup vehicle and adaptable to varied mission profiles. Delair, founded in 2011 and based in Toulouse, operates in over 70 countries and had a turnover exceeding €10 million in 2023, with the objective of becoming Europe’s leading drone manufacturer by 2030.
