Eurodrone

Lore & Background

Development began on 18 May 2015 when France, Germany and Italy launched a two-year study to define operational capabilities and preliminary design; Spain later joined. Program management was assigned to OCCAR in November 2015, with European Defence Agency support for air traffic integration. A two-year definition study started in September 2016, and a full-scale mock-up was unveiled at the April 2018 ILA Berlin Air Show. In October 2018, OCCAR invited Airbus Defence and Space to submit a tender, coordinating major sub-contractors Dassault and Leonardo. The system preliminary design review was completed in November 2018.

In late May 2019, Airbus submitted its offer. That summer, the French Senate criticized the platform as 'too heavy, too expensive and therefore, too difficult to export' due to 'German specifications'. The first flight was then scheduled for 2024, with first deliveries planned for 2027. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, contract signing slipped to 2021, with final assembly at Manching and maiden flight then scheduled for 2025. The contract is for 20 Eurodrone systems (60 drones). In February 2022, the development and production contract was approved, and the prototype first flight is now expected by mid-2027. In March 2022, Airbus confirmed selection of the General Electric Catalyst turboprop engine over the Safran Ardinen 3TP.

The Eurodrone is intended for long-endurance intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance and ground support missions with precision-guided weapons. Its twin-turboprops are mounted in a pusher configuration behind the wing, one-third larger than the MQ-9. Germany demanded dual engines for safety over urban areas; France, using it over conflict zones, criticized its cost and weight. At 11,000 kg (24,000 lb), it is over twice as heavy as an MQ-9 Reaper, and French politician Christian Cambon criticized it as suffering from 'obesity'.

Reader's Guide

The Eurodrone represents a major European collaborative effort in unmanned aerial systems, with orders from four nations: France (12 drones), Germany (21), Italy (15) and Spain (12). Its development has been marked by delays and cost concerns, notably French criticism of its weight and expense due to German specifications. The dual-engine design, a German requirement for safe overflight of urban areas, contributes to its size—over twice the weight of an MQ-9 Reaper. The program's significance lies in its role as a sovereign European alternative to U.S. drones, with a contract for 60 aircraft. Japan and India have joined as observers, indicating potential future export interest. The selection of the General Electric Catalyst engine and the use of Leonardo's Gabbiano AESA radar and Safran's Euroflir 610 sensor highlight its advanced avionics. Despite its troubled history, the Eurodrone is set to provide long-endurance ISR and ground support capabilities with precision weapons, with first flight expected by mid-2027.

Did You Know?

• The Eurodrone is over twice as heavy as an MQ-9 Reaper, at 11,000 kg.
• Germany demanded dual engines so that an engine failure would not cause a crash over urban areas.
• The contract is for 20 systems, each including three aircraft, totaling 60 drones.
• Japan joined the Eurodrone programme as an observer on 30 November 2023.