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France Launches Development of Stealth Combat Drone to Complement Rafale F5 Standard.
France has officially announced the development of an unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV) designed to complement the Rafale F5 standard, expected to enter service beyond 2030. This announcement was made by the Minister of the Armed Forces, Sébastien Lecornu, during the 60th anniversary celebration of the Strategic Air Forces (FAS) at Saint-Dizier Air Base. The event, attended by General Jérôme Bellanger, Chief of Staff of the Air and Space Force, and Éric Trappier, CEO of Dassault Aviation, highlighted the project, which aims to strengthen the technological and operational superiority of French military aviation.
This project builds significantly on the achievements of the nEUROn program, Europe’s first stealth UCAV demonstrator, launched in 2003 under the leadership of Dassault Aviation (Picture source: Dassault Aviation)
The new combat drone, developed by Dassault Aviation in partnership with the French Defense Procurement Agency (DGA) and other industry partners, aims to enhance the Rafale’s capabilities within a networked warfare environment. Equipped with advanced stealth technologies, autonomous control with human intervention (man-in-the-loop), and internal weapon payload capacity, the drone is designed to adapt to evolving threats and meet the operational needs of the French Air and Space Force.
Éric Trappier emphasized the significance of this initiative, aligning with Dassault Aviation’s longstanding expertise in unmanned aerial systems, stating, “This stealth combat drone will contribute to the technological and operational superiority of the French Air Force by 2033. Its development, launched today, coincides with the anniversary of the FAS and the 90th anniversary of the Air and Space Force,” adding that the project builds on decades of experience and innovation.
This project builds significantly on the achievements of the nEUROn program, Europe’s first stealth UCAV demonstrator, launched in 2003 under the leadership of Dassault Aviation. The program, which brought together industrial partners from six countries (France, Switzerland, Sweden, Italy, Spain, and Greece), validated critical technologies in stealth and autonomous flight, as well as internal weapon payload capabilities such as laser-guided GBU-12 bombs.
The nEUROn, weighing seven tons, with a wingspan of 12.5 meters and a length of 9.2 meters, is powered by a Rolls-Royce Turbomeca Adour Mk. 951 engine, capable of reaching speeds of Mach 0.8 at an altitude of 14,000 meters. Since its maiden flight in 2012, the demonstrator has completed over 170 test flights, meeting performance, timeline, and budgetary targets. The expertise gained with the nEUROn will be directly applied to the new drone’s design, creating a strong foundation for further developments.
The objective of this new combat drone is to secure France’s strategic independence and air superiority in response to emerging geopolitical and military threats over the coming decades. The combination of the Rafale F5 and this autonomous drone is expected to enhance France’s collaborative combat capabilities—a network-centric approach that improves response times and operational effectiveness in combat missions.
Similar to the historic partnership between the Mirage IV and the FAS in the 1960s, this new project represents a technological continuity that aligns the French military with current defense needs. Dassault Aviation’s selection to lead this development reflects the renewed confidence of French authorities in the company. Although budgets, additional industry partnerships, and export opportunities remain undefined, Éric Trappier views this mission as a commitment to meeting the French armed forces’ expectations.