Eurodrone: Europe’s sovereign skies

The Eurodrone marks a big leap in Europe's defence capabilities, representing a new generation of Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS) designed to bolster European sovereignty. Gilles Armstrong, Head of Eurodrone at Airbus, discusses its importance.

Medium Altitude, Long Endurance (MALE) uncrewed aerial systems (UAS) have become indispensable assets for air forces worldwide.

Among others, these versatile aircraft provide comprehensive intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities, enabling persistent observation of vast ground and maritime areas. Their extended loiter time, ability to gather high-resolution data, and capacity to carry precision munitions are all crucial for modern security operations, especially in highly complex scenarios.

Building Europe's sovereign defence capabilities and industrial base

Europe has historically lacked an independent, high-performance MALE RPAS. The Eurodrone fills this strategic gap, confirmed in the European Union's 'ReArm / Readiness 2030' plan.

It will provide European armed forces with a home-grown asset tailored to their operational needs. Its integration will significantly enhance Europe's independent ISR capabilities, bolstering collective defence and strengthening strategic autonomy.

The four launch nations - Germany, France, Spain, and Italy - have ordered 20 Eurodrone systems (each with three air vehicles and two ground stations), developed by industrial partners Airbus, Dassault Aviation, and Leonardo. India and Japan have joined the programme as observers.

Having covered the background, let's hear from Gilles Armstrong, Head of the Eurodrone program at Airbus.

Gilles, what is your vision for the programme?

Gilles Armstrong: First and foremost, our teams are highly competent and dedicated, while the product we are developing is truly exceptional! We have a unique opportunity to demonstrate that effective and successful European collaboration can be achieved through shared commitment and know-how.

Indeed the Eurodrone is more than just an aircraft. It's a symbol of Europe's commitment to its own security and strategic autonomy.

My plan for the future is to focus on making our industrial partnerships more robust, as well as strengthening our collaboration with OCCAR [the Organisation for Joint Armament Cooperation responsible for the overall management of the programme] and the nations. This is essential to meet the tight schedule. Specifically, our cooperative environment must reflect the relationship between the value of a capability and the time required for its development, a trade-off that is the hallmark of most complex product programmes. Control processes must add value proportionate to the effort invested. The focus, ultimately, is on speed and operational excellence. While all parties agree on the need for this, it's a question of developing a method that we are all comfortable with. Nevertheless, we have jointly made significant progress in the proposals.

_{The Eurodrone teams have accomplished various successful wind tunnel campaigns over the last few years, adding to Computer-Aided Design (CAD) work. This led to the completion of Eurodrone's Preliminary Design Review in 2024, signifying that the initial design had matured.}

Where does the Eurodrone programme stand now, and what are the next milestones?

Airbus and our industrial partners are progressing rapidly towards the validation of the contractual Critical Design Review (CDR) in Q4 2025. The CDR is a multi-disciplinary technical review that ensures the integrity of the design for subsequent production, demonstration, and testing.

As a pivotal preparatory step, we have already concluded an internal CDR within Airbus, and our documentation has been formally accepted into the OCCAR review. A successful assessment was conducted by an independent panel, marking a key milestone in the project's development. The teams' considerable efforts were duly recognised.

After the contractual CDR, the customer nations and subcontractors will review the programme status for the Contract Maturity Gate (CMG 1). This will lead to the manufacturing phase, followed by intensive testing and the Eurodrone's first flight, with an entry into service before the end of this decade.

"The deliveries of the Critical Design Review show the outstanding work of the teams to meet the challenging and complex requirements. We are looking forward to an impressive weapon system with outstanding capabilities in comparison to available systems on the market. The Eurodrone represents the future of Europe's industrial defence capabilities. It is a key programme showing a common European spirit in industry and administration."

Philipp Tietz, Federal Office of Bundeswehr Equipment, Information Technology and In-Service Support, Germany

Compared to smaller drones, what added value will Eurodrone bring to operators in combat scenarios?
Eurodrone offers significant advantages compared to smaller drones: superior range, greater payload capacity, and the ability to carry sophisticated sensors and weapons. Advanced radars enable surveillance from greater distances, reducing losses. Greater endurance ensures longer operational times, crucial for missions covering wide areas. Eurodrone complements fleets of smaller drones, providing persistent surveillance, advanced reconnaissance, and precise targeting capabilities.

How does Eurodrone compare to competitors in the MALE segment?

The Eurodrone ushers in a new segment of large, medium altitude long endurance uncrewed aerial systems. It sets itself apart with exceptional payload capacity, extended loiter time, and seamless integration capabilities within civil airspace. This makes Eurodrone a unique and unparalleled platform, particularly as it is a fully ITAR-free solution [Editor's note: referring to the International Traffic in Arms Regulations of the United States]. The Eurodrone is not subject to ITAR, providing greater flexibility and autonomy for export and operation. This is further reinforced by the programme's fully European supply chain, which is designed to guarantee strategic sovereignty, particularly in the current volatile geopolitical context.

Is Eurodrone suited to maritime surveillance?

Yes! Eurodrone is ideal for maritime surveillance, providing crucial oversight for monitoring activities, detecting threats, and supporting naval operations across vast ocean areas. Automatic and Warship Automatic Identification System (AIS/W-AIS), maritime radar, and other standard maritime technologies are integrated into its baseline design. Eurodrone's open architecture allows for future growth in maritime capabilities, including 360° radar coverage and connectivity systems including Link 22, a NATO tactical data link. Furthermore it offers lower operational costs than crewed platforms.

"Spain is fully committed to the continuity of the programme, as stated by the Spanish Minister of Defence at the latest German-Spanish Bilateral Meeting in Berlin on 28 August. In the current European security environment, this programme plays a key role in strengthening our medium-to-long-term operational capabilities and contributes to the development of national know-how in a cooperation programme that will strengthen European industrial and technological sovereignty. We appreciate the dedication of the team and look forward to continued collaboration as the programme progresses."

Colonel Francisco Javier Martín García-Almenta, Directorate General of Armament and Material, Spanish Ministry of Defence

What's the significance of countries such as India and Japan joining the programme as observers?

As observer nations, India and Japan gain detailed insights into Eurodrone's development and data, aiding informed decisions on participation or purchase. This opens the doors to potential government-to-government collaboration.

Eurodrone's unique performance offers growth potential, ensures full sovereignty of operations, and supports future indigenous industry participation. These factors are key in any modern international programme.

What role could Eurodrone play in future combat scenarios?

In a drastically changed geopolitical landscape, especially for Europe, Eurodrone is poised to be a trusted player in future combat scenarios. It will integrate into Europe's future sixth-generation fighter programme, exchanging data with other platforms such as Eurofighter combat aircraft, ground stations, and satellites. Crucially, Eurodrone guarantees full data sovereignty for the operator, reducing dependence on foreign suppliers and offering enhanced control, security, and operational independence. Eurodrone is a unique European project which will define the continent's industrial capabilities for a long time.