France Turns to Veloce 330 Loitering Munition to Sharpen Its Precision Strikes on Armored Threats
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Amid the resurgence of high-intensity conflicts, characterized by direct engagements and an increasing use of attack drones, the French Ministry of the Armed Forces is accelerating the integration of loitering munitions into its operational systems. In this context, the Veloce 330, developed by the French company EOS Technologie, has reached a key stage. Officially presented at the Paris Air Show 2025, the munition was announced on June 19, 2025, as entering a new phase of operational qualification, according to a company statement relayed in the specialized press. Resulting from close cooperation with the KNDS group and supported by both the French Defence Procurement Agency (DGA) and the Defence Innovation Agency (AID), this medium-range loitering munition is currently being tested by all three branches of the French armed forces.Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link
From a technical perspective, the Veloce 330 is designed for rapid deployment and ease of use (Picture source: EOS Technologie)
Initially unveiled in 2024, the Veloce 330 has gradually established itself as a credible option. After over a hundred test flights and a series of demonstrations validated by the DGA, the system has reached a high level of technological maturity. Fully dronized, it is equipped with an innovative terminal guidance system combining high speed, metric-level accuracy, and human-in-the-loop control, without relying on GPS. This capability is based on technology developed by TRAAK. A video released on June 10, 2025, demonstrates the munition precisely striking a full-scale tank at missile-like speed.
A notable aspect of the Veloce 330 is that its software and hardware architecture was entirely developed in-house by EOS Technologie. Within a few months, the company became the first French manufacturer to independently develop a complete self-guidance solution for drones and loitering munitions. This capability aligns with France’s strategic goals concerning technological sovereignty and the evolution of firepower doctrines.
From a technical perspective, the Veloce 330 is designed for rapid deployment and ease of use. It can be assembled in under ten minutes by two operators. The system is powered by a small jet turbine engine delivering between 12 and 18 kg of thrust, enabling a top speed of 400 km/h and a maximum altitude of 6,000 meters. It offers an endurance of 30 minutes at cruise speed (200 km/h) and 15 minutes at maximum speed. With a total take-off weight of 25 kg and a wingspan of 3.30 meters, it carries a 6 kg payload. Launch is performed via catapult, and control is maintained up to a range of 100 km through a lightweight ground station contained in a compact transport case. Its acoustic signature is low, and it becomes inaudible beyond a two-kilometer radius—an advantage for operations in contested environments.
The industrial approach pursued by EOS reflects a strategy aimed at medium- and large-scale production, considered essential by CEO Jean-Marc Zuliani to meet France’s capability needs. This positioning enables the company to offer a cost-effective solution without compromising on performance. KNDS, a long-standing partner of EOS, has integrated the Veloce 330 into its MATARIS offering in the medium-range segment. This inclusion enhances the program’s visibility on the international market, where it competes with established players such as Aerovironment and uVision.
Summer 2025 marks a critical period. A first batch of 17 Veloce 330 units will be tested by the French armed forces, alongside additional trials conducted by DGA Missile Testing (DGA EM). These evaluations will include live warhead firings by the end of the year. The 2.5 kg military warhead, developed by KNDS, draws on technologies derived from the BONUS artillery shell and will be assessed accordingly.
In parallel, EOS is developing the Rodeur 330, a long-range variant of the Veloce. Equipped with a piston engine, it is designed to have a range exceeding 500 km and endurance of up to eight hours. This evolution fits within EOS’s modular and incremental development philosophy, which emphasizes agility in both design and manufacturing. According to Zuliani, innovation in the drone sector is not limited to the airframe—it must also affect the industrial production process itself.
The Rodeur 330 is also intended as a technological platform ahead of an upcoming DGA tender for sovereign attack drone capabilities. EOS aims to provide a simple, scalable, and competitive system tailored to the practical needs of modern combat. This could position the company as a major player in a strategic context where demand for offensive drones is increasing, particularly in light of lessons learned from the conflict in Ukraine.
The Veloce 330 thus represents more than a new loitering munition. It illustrates the development of a responsive and autonomous French industrial ecosystem capable of delivering effective systems rapidly and at scale, adapted to evolving battlefield conditions. EOS Technologie now plays a central role in this emerging generation of smart munitions designed for intensive operational use.
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Amid the resurgence of high-intensity conflicts, characterized by direct engagements and an increasing use of attack drones, the French Ministry of the Armed Forces is accelerating the integration of loitering munitions into its operational systems. In this context, the Veloce 330, developed by the French company EOS Technologie, has reached a key stage. Officially presented at the Paris Air Show 2025, the munition was announced on June 19, 2025, as entering a new phase of operational qualification, according to a company statement relayed in the specialized press. Resulting from close cooperation with the KNDS group and supported by both the French Defence Procurement Agency (DGA) and the Defence Innovation Agency (AID), this medium-range loitering munition is currently being tested by all three branches of the French armed forces.
Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link
From a technical perspective, the Veloce 330 is designed for rapid deployment and ease of use (Picture source: EOS Technologie)
Initially unveiled in 2024, the Veloce 330 has gradually established itself as a credible option. After over a hundred test flights and a series of demonstrations validated by the DGA, the system has reached a high level of technological maturity. Fully dronized, it is equipped with an innovative terminal guidance system combining high speed, metric-level accuracy, and human-in-the-loop control, without relying on GPS. This capability is based on technology developed by TRAAK. A video released on June 10, 2025, demonstrates the munition precisely striking a full-scale tank at missile-like speed.
A notable aspect of the Veloce 330 is that its software and hardware architecture was entirely developed in-house by EOS Technologie. Within a few months, the company became the first French manufacturer to independently develop a complete self-guidance solution for drones and loitering munitions. This capability aligns with France’s strategic goals concerning technological sovereignty and the evolution of firepower doctrines.
From a technical perspective, the Veloce 330 is designed for rapid deployment and ease of use. It can be assembled in under ten minutes by two operators. The system is powered by a small jet turbine engine delivering between 12 and 18 kg of thrust, enabling a top speed of 400 km/h and a maximum altitude of 6,000 meters. It offers an endurance of 30 minutes at cruise speed (200 km/h) and 15 minutes at maximum speed. With a total take-off weight of 25 kg and a wingspan of 3.30 meters, it carries a 6 kg payload. Launch is performed via catapult, and control is maintained up to a range of 100 km through a lightweight ground station contained in a compact transport case. Its acoustic signature is low, and it becomes inaudible beyond a two-kilometer radius—an advantage for operations in contested environments.
The industrial approach pursued by EOS reflects a strategy aimed at medium- and large-scale production, considered essential by CEO Jean-Marc Zuliani to meet France’s capability needs. This positioning enables the company to offer a cost-effective solution without compromising on performance. KNDS, a long-standing partner of EOS, has integrated the Veloce 330 into its MATARIS offering in the medium-range segment. This inclusion enhances the program’s visibility on the international market, where it competes with established players such as Aerovironment and uVision.
Summer 2025 marks a critical period. A first batch of 17 Veloce 330 units will be tested by the French armed forces, alongside additional trials conducted by DGA Missile Testing (DGA EM). These evaluations will include live warhead firings by the end of the year. The 2.5 kg military warhead, developed by KNDS, draws on technologies derived from the BONUS artillery shell and will be assessed accordingly.
In parallel, EOS is developing the Rodeur 330, a long-range variant of the Veloce. Equipped with a piston engine, it is designed to have a range exceeding 500 km and endurance of up to eight hours. This evolution fits within EOS’s modular and incremental development philosophy, which emphasizes agility in both design and manufacturing. According to Zuliani, innovation in the drone sector is not limited to the airframe—it must also affect the industrial production process itself.
The Rodeur 330 is also intended as a technological platform ahead of an upcoming DGA tender for sovereign attack drone capabilities. EOS aims to provide a simple, scalable, and competitive system tailored to the practical needs of modern combat. This could position the company as a major player in a strategic context where demand for offensive drones is increasing, particularly in light of lessons learned from the conflict in Ukraine.
The Veloce 330 thus represents more than a new loitering munition. It illustrates the development of a responsive and autonomous French industrial ecosystem capable of delivering effective systems rapidly and at scale, adapted to evolving battlefield conditions. EOS Technologie now plays a central role in this emerging generation of smart munitions designed for intensive operational use.
