In the presence of the Minister of the Armed Forces, five grant agreements were signed with AURA AERO, Daher, FLY-R, SE Aviation, and Turgis Gaillard, major players in drone innovation, to support the development of MALE demonstrators starting in 2026.In line with the guidelines of the 2024-2030 Military Planning Act, these initiatives are part of an approach to adapting military capabilities to address evolving threats.Development of Low-Cost MALE DronesRecent high-intensity conflicts have highlighted the need for drones with the following specific features: medium-altitude long endurance (MALE), low cost, modularity, multi-mission capability, jamming resistance, and rapid deployment capabilities.MALE drones are medium-altitude, long-range drones.
They play a vital role in modern conflict zones thanks to their significant reconnaissance, surveillance, intelligence, and light attack capabilities.
These drones are remotely guided by ground operators via satellite links, enabling continuous, real-time surveillance of areas of interest.The signing of these agreements with five emerging and established players marks a decisive step in accelerating the Ministry of the Armed Forces MALE drone strategy.
By adopting an agile and collaborative approach, these agreements aim to foster competition between manufacturers.
They will enable the development of the best operational solution while respecting time and cost constraints.
They will also offer a diversification of options and new export opportunities.Finally, they embody the DGAs commitment to accelerating and expanding projects to foster a competitive industry in the MALE drone segment, which will benefit our armed forces.Source: Directorate General for Armament