Much-Delayed MALE UAS Collaboration Moves Forward
The EU’s Organisation for Joint Armament Co-Operation (OCCAR) and prime contractor Airbus have signed a contract to develop, manufacture and support the long-mooted Eurodrone system.
The project, intended to design, develop and deploy a medium-altitude, long-endurance (MALE) UAS that meets the needs of four European partner nations, has been under discussion since 2014. The contract was ready to sign in 2020 but ratification from all four nations was not obtained until last month.
Airbus is the prime contractor on the multinational development programme. The company will carry out final assembly of the aircraft in Germany and build the fuselage and tail section in Spain. Dassault will design, develop and supply maintenance systems, landing systems and communications. Wings will be built by Leonardo, which is also responsible for weapon and mission systems. Airbus’s Spanish team will also be responsible for engine integration, though so far no final decision has been taken about the twin turboprop aircraft’s powerplant.
The contract covers 20 systems and five years of in-service support. One system includes three air vehicles. A joint release did not mention a value but various reports have put the cost at €7 billion ($7.8 billion). The four nations have contracted for specific numbers of systems: Germany seven (21 aircraft); Italy five (15); France and Spain four each (12). The aircraft, which superficially resembles the Mantis demonstrator flown by BAE Systems in 2009, will be designed to meet requirements for integration into civil airspace – the first time this has been true of a new UAV design in its class, the companies say.
“This contract marks the determination of the European nations and industrial partners to achieve the political goals and to meet the technological challenges leading to European defence sovereignty,” said Eric Trappier, Dassault Aviation chairman and CEO. “Innovative programmes with strong key technological foundations will guarantee the strategic autonomy of Europe by offering new alternatives to the on-the-shelf acquisition of non-European products. Thanks to a shared vision and a pragmatic approach, Eurodrone is carried by the choice of best in-house competencies and expertise of each company.”
