Signing of the "Defense Aerial Drone Pact" for New Collaborative Methods Between the State and Industry at Eurosatory 2024.

On June 17, 2024, during the Eurosatory exhibition, the Minister of the Armed Forces, Mr. Sébastien Lecornu, signed the "Defense Aerial Drone Pact." The purpose of this pact is to adapt the management of armament programs in the field of contact drones weighing less than 150 kg by synergizing the operational needs of the armed forces and the defense industry sector.
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The DT-46 Long Range Drone by Delair presented by French Army at Eurosatory 2024 (Picture source: ArmyRecognition)

On June 17, 2024, during the Eurosatory exhibition, the Minister of the Armed Forces, Mr. Sébastien Lecornu, signed the "Defense Aerial Drone Pact." The purpose of this pact is to adapt the management of armament programs in the field of contact drones weighing less than 150 kg by synergizing the operational needs of the armed forces and the defense industry sector. 

The signing ceremony, attended by Mr. Emmanuel Chiva, the General Delegate for Armament, marked a significant step in promoting a collaborative working environment between the State and the industry. 

Recognizing the unique aspects of the contact aerial drone sector, this initiative establishes an unprecedented collective approach, allowing the State and the industry to jointly address common challenges.

This collaboration aims to enhance the industry's understanding of operational needs and to strengthen the ministry's knowledge of industrial capacities and competencies.

With the establishment of its new Directorate of Defense Industry (DID), the DGA is creating the necessary conditions for a more sovereign and responsive answer to the armed forces' needs for contact drones.

The pact, supervised by the DGA, is directly inspired by recommendations made in 2023 by the Groupement des industries de défense et de sécurité terrestres et aéroterrestres (GICAT) and the Association du drone de l'industrie française (ADIF). 

The development of drones by France and the French army has significantly accelerated in recent years, integrating cutting-edge technologies to meet modern operational needs. Among the notable models is the Patroller tactical drone, designed by Safran, which offers an endurance of over 20 hours and a payload capacity of 250 kg, enabling medium-altitude reconnaissance and surveillance missions.

The Reaper, a combat drone from General Atomics used by the French army, is capable of flying for up to 27 hours and carrying precision armaments for targeted strikes. On a smaller scale, the NX70 by Novadem is a versatile micro-drone weighing only 1 kg, with a flight time of 45 minutes and an operational range of 5 km, primarily used for rapid reconnaissance missions. These drones, with their varied capabilities and adapted sizes, illustrate France's commitment to modernizing its armed forces and enhancing its intelligence and combat capabilities.