France’s Upcoming Stealth UCAV Will Enable the Rafale F5 to Penetrate Contested Airspace
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At the 2025 Paris Air Show, Dassault Aviation has unveiled a key project aimed at strengthening the French Air and Space Force’s future combat capabilities: a new large uncrewed combat air system (UCAV), developed in parallel with the Rafale F5 standard. The system is currently in a pre-development phase under the supervision of France’s defense procurement agency, the DGA, and is scheduled to enter service around 2033, with a first flight expected a few years earlier. Dassault presented a model of the aircraft at its stand during the event.Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link
With a maximum takeoff weight similar to that of the Mirage 2000, around 17.5 tonnes, the drone is powered by a single Safran M88 engine, the same used in the twin-engine Rafale (Picture source: Army Recognition)
The new combat drone builds directly on the experience gained through the European nEUROn technology demonstrator developed over the past decade. Featuring advanced stealth characteristics, the UCAV is designed to operate in contested environments, working alongside Rafale fighters. It will be capable of engaging enemy air defense systems while being remotely operated, at least initially, by a single Rafale F5 pilot. This operating concept may later evolve to allow one fighter to control multiple drones simultaneously.
With a maximum takeoff weight similar to that of the Mirage 2000, around 17.5 tonnes, the drone is powered by a single Safran M88 engine, the same used in the twin-engine Rafale. This marks a departure from the lighter 5–6 tonne nEUROn demonstrator, which used a Rolls-Royce/Turbomeca Adour turbofan. The aircraft will carry a broad range of weapons, including air-to-air missiles, housed internally to maintain low observability.
An important feature of the UCAV’s design is its ability to operate from aircraft carriers, similar to the Rafale Marine. Engineers are also working on integrating aerial refueling capabilities. The final choice between a probe-and-drogue system like that of the Rafale or a traditional hose-and-drogue configuration is still under consideration. The system’s compatibility with France’s Airbus A330 MRTT tankers, which support both methods, is factored into the design.
The UCAV is intended to operate in tandem with the Rafale F5 starting in 2033. It will precede the introduction, expected around 2040, of a new-generation fighter developed under the Future Combat Air System (FCAS), a trilateral project involving France, Germany, and Spain. A model of this sixth-generation aircraft is also being shown, reflecting an approach that combines manned and unmanned platforms in a unified combat system.
The DGA views the nEUROn program as having successfully fulfilled its role as a technology demonstrator, having flown 170 sorties since December 2012. It validated core concepts such as low observability, autonomous flight, internal weapons carriage, and integration within a C4I environment. Based on this foundation, Dassault is now proceeding with development without the need for a new demonstrator.
This drone project is the result of over a decade of collaborative European research led by Dassault, aimed at sustaining industrial and technological expertise. While currently a national program, its development could eventually lead to a shared or exportable capability, as armed forces globally explore the integration of autonomous aerial systems into their combat fleets. Dassault’s trajectory reflects a broader trend toward the proliferation of stealth-capable heavy combat drones, now increasingly central to modern airpower doctrines.
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At the 2025 Paris Air Show, Dassault Aviation has unveiled a key project aimed at strengthening the French Air and Space Force’s future combat capabilities: a new large uncrewed combat air system (UCAV), developed in parallel with the Rafale F5 standard. The system is currently in a pre-development phase under the supervision of France’s defense procurement agency, the DGA, and is scheduled to enter service around 2033, with a first flight expected a few years earlier. Dassault presented a model of the aircraft at its stand during the event.
Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link
With a maximum takeoff weight similar to that of the Mirage 2000, around 17.5 tonnes, the drone is powered by a single Safran M88 engine, the same used in the twin-engine Rafale (Picture source: Army Recognition)
The new combat drone builds directly on the experience gained through the European nEUROn technology demonstrator developed over the past decade. Featuring advanced stealth characteristics, the UCAV is designed to operate in contested environments, working alongside Rafale fighters. It will be capable of engaging enemy air defense systems while being remotely operated, at least initially, by a single Rafale F5 pilot. This operating concept may later evolve to allow one fighter to control multiple drones simultaneously.
With a maximum takeoff weight similar to that of the Mirage 2000, around 17.5 tonnes, the drone is powered by a single Safran M88 engine, the same used in the twin-engine Rafale. This marks a departure from the lighter 5–6 tonne nEUROn demonstrator, which used a Rolls-Royce/Turbomeca Adour turbofan. The aircraft will carry a broad range of weapons, including air-to-air missiles, housed internally to maintain low observability.
An important feature of the UCAV’s design is its ability to operate from aircraft carriers, similar to the Rafale Marine. Engineers are also working on integrating aerial refueling capabilities. The final choice between a probe-and-drogue system like that of the Rafale or a traditional hose-and-drogue configuration is still under consideration. The system’s compatibility with France’s Airbus A330 MRTT tankers, which support both methods, is factored into the design.
The UCAV is intended to operate in tandem with the Rafale F5 starting in 2033. It will precede the introduction, expected around 2040, of a new-generation fighter developed under the Future Combat Air System (FCAS), a trilateral project involving France, Germany, and Spain. A model of this sixth-generation aircraft is also being shown, reflecting an approach that combines manned and unmanned platforms in a unified combat system.
The DGA views the nEUROn program as having successfully fulfilled its role as a technology demonstrator, having flown 170 sorties since December 2012. It validated core concepts such as low observability, autonomous flight, internal weapons carriage, and integration within a C4I environment. Based on this foundation, Dassault is now proceeding with development without the need for a new demonstrator.
This drone project is the result of over a decade of collaborative European research led by Dassault, aimed at sustaining industrial and technological expertise. While currently a national program, its development could eventually lead to a shared or exportable capability, as armed forces globally explore the integration of autonomous aerial systems into their combat fleets. Dassault’s trajectory reflects a broader trend toward the proliferation of stealth-capable heavy combat drones, now increasingly central to modern airpower doctrines.
