France's Delair to deliver first batch of UX11 kamikaze drones to France and Ukraine.

According to Challenges on October 30, 2024, French drone manufacturer Delair is set to deliver its initial batch of kamikaze drones to France and Ukraine, following an order from France's Directorate General of Armaments (DGA). Expected within days, this first delivery marks the debut of Delair-produced Colibri UX11 kamikaze drones for the Ukrainian conflict.
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Compliant with NATO STANAG standards, the Colibri UX11 supports interoperability with NATO forces and includes a video tracking system for intelligence and targeting operations. (Picture source: FArmy Recognition)

French Armed Forces Minister Sébastien Lecornu confirmed that these drones would soon be sent to Ukraine, with Ukrainian forces scheduled to receive training on their deployment and operational use. Delair faced production delays earlier this summer but now states that deliveries to the French government are imminent.

Under its contract with the DGA, Delair will produce 2,000 loitering munitions for French forces, with 100 units allocated for export to Ukraine. In collaboration with the Franco-German consortium KNDS, Delair adapted its UX 11 model by integrating a 500-gram explosive payload for kamikaze missions. This shift represents a departure for Delair, traditionally focused on civil drone production. These drones, designed to resist Russian jamming technology, are intended to meet operational requirements specific to Ukraine, where Ukrainian forces have previously employed Delair’s observation drones for reconnaissance.

In 2023, Delair delivered 150 observation drones to Kyiv under a DGA contract. With increased production capacity, Delair now produces between four and twelve drones per month for its DT 26 Line and DT 46 models and up to 1,000 units annually for the UX 11 model. To broaden its defense capabilities, Delair recently acquired Squadrone System, a Grenoble-based drone manufacturer specializing in coordinated swarm flights. Developed with Thales and under the Defense Innovation Agency (AID) guidance, Squadrone System’s technology supports Delair's expansion into new drone applications for defense. Additionally, Delair entered the underwater drone market by acquiring Seasam from Notilo Plus in 2023, allowing it to develop inspection systems suited for various operational environments.

On October 16, 2024, Lecornu announced that France’s first loitering munition, also termed a "kamikaze drone," had undergone successful testing. This UX11 drone, called “Colibri,” was developed jointly by KNDS and Delair and is expected for delivery to both French and Ukrainian forces. The Colibri drone is designed for short-range missions, with a 45-minute flight duration, a 25-kilometer communication range, and encrypted data transmission capable of functioning in GPS-compromised areas. It carries a 500-gram pre-fragmented explosive payload that can be activated aerially if necessary. Equipped with a training and combat software suite, a reinforced military casing, and an intuitive control station, the Colibri can be rapidly deployed within five minutes. France offers training programs domestically or abroad to optimize Colibri’s operational use.

In supporting Ukraine, France has intensified its assistance with drones, including reconnaissance drones, training programs, and participation in European initiatives. Since 2022, France has provided a military aid package totaling over €3.8 billion to Ukraine, including hundreds of drones and other military equipment. As a key member of the “Drone Coalition,” led by Latvia and the United Kingdom, France aims to deliver one million drones to Ukraine for various missions, such as surveillance, ground targeting, and electronic warfare. Through adaptable drone technologies, France and coalition partners seek to bolster Ukraine’s tactical capabilities.

The deployment of kamikaze drones, including Colibri, offers a resource-efficient approach to meeting Ukraine’s military objectives, particularly in targeting unarmored vehicles and infantry. These drones provide a versatile solution for short-range precision strikes, aligning with France's focus on producing effective, lower-cost drones. This program reflects a broader goal of establishing French capabilities in drone production, aimed at enhancing national security and contributing to allied operations.

Since the onset of the Ukraine conflict, kamikaze drones have seen widespread use across military contexts. They offer reconnaissance and precision-strike capabilities similar to traditional missiles but at a lower production cost, making them suitable for a wide range of missions. Ukraine has independently produced drones like the AQ-400 Scythe and UJ-22 to meet its needs, including targeting strategic infrastructure across Russian territory. This trend has sparked global interest, with countries such as China studying these tactics to inform their own loitering munition development. Kamikaze drones provide flexibility in targeting and situational awareness through real-time intelligence transmission, supporting adaptable responses in operations and minimizing risks in high-casualty or populated areas.

Kamikaze drones, launched from various platforms, offer tactical advantages but remain susceptible to countermeasures like jamming and electronic warfare. As drone technology advances, improvements in autonomy, guidance, and swarm capabilities could expand their role in both conventional and unconventional warfare. These developments have attracted attention from state and non-state actors interested in potential applications for counterinsurgency and border security, underscoring the strategic importance of loitering munitions in future military planning. The adoption of such drones reflects a shift in combat strategies, emphasizing real-time adaptability and increased deployment numbers for cost-effective operations.