Six “Eurodrones” are scheduled to be operational by 2035, according to the Military Programming Law [LPM] 2024–2030; nevertheless, many concerns remain unanswered about this programme, including its capabilities, features (it will weigh 10 tonnes, Ed.), costs, and delivery dates. French Senator Cédric Perrin of The Republicans repeated these worries during the hearing of General Stéphane Mille, the Chief of Staff of the Air and Space Army (CEMAAE) at the Senate in May 2022, for which the minutes have now been published.
General Mills, as per the Opex360 site, confirmed there would be a delay in the delivery of the Eurodrone to the Air and Space Army [AAE] compared to the initially anticipated schedule. It is going to show up when the MQ-9 Reapers’ life is coming to an end. AAE will look at it as its replacement since it will have the capabilities of sovereignty and system integration, which we will opt to install on board, he said.
According to Gen. Mille, AAE is thoroughly investigating various project carriers. He stated that he met with an organisation that had presented an interesting project. However, he is waiting for the first flights since AAE needs to assess what can transition from paper to reality within reasonable timetables. These initiatives are part of the MALE (Medium Altitude Long Endurance) drone sector, which falls under the authority of the AAE.
He said that AAE is interested in the identified manufacturer because it uses off-the-shelf parts and integrates them into a structure it has made, which is sovereign.
The drone that General Mille referred to could be “Aarok,” which received much attention at the most recent International Aeronautics and Space Show in Le Bourget. This drone does not violate the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) because it was developed by the French business Turgis & Gaillard using its funds and contains no American components. In addition, it was made to conform to the certification standards, making it easier for the French equipment that was already in use to be used.
The Aarok can carry a payload of 1.5 tonnes and has more than 24 hours of endurance. This payload can include four bombs equipped with an AASM (Air-to-Ground Modular Weapon) package and two anti-tank missiles. It can carry out ISR missions (intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance), SEAD missions (suppression of enemy air defences), and fire support missions. Regarding the cost, experts believe that it will be somewhere between 5 and 10 million euros.
The LPM 2024-30 intends to invest 5 billion euros in the research and development of drones and their procurement. This fund will finance the Eurodrone and the successor to the nEUROn demonstrator that will accompany Rafale F5.
