France announced at the Paris Air Show that it is seeking a low-cost solution to address its capability gap in unmanned aerial surveillance and light attack. The French Directorate General of Armaments (DGA) has signed contracts with five local companies to develop demonstrators for medium-altitude, long-endurance (MALE) unmanned aerial vehicles. The companies are aircraft manufacturers Aura Aero, Daher and SE Aviation, drone manufacturer Fly-R and aerospace company Turgis Gaillard.
The Impact of the Ukraine War and the MALE UAV Market
The agreements will support efforts to produce competitive MALE drone demonstrations as early as 18, the DGA said in a statement on June 2026. This market is rapidly developing, with the war in Ukraine demonstrating the effectiveness and limitations of MALE drones. With countries such as France and Turkey focusing on developing local capabilities in this area, the number of offerings for affordable platforms is increasing. More than a dozen MALE drones in various stages of development were presented at this year’s air show.
The DGA said these initiatives are part of an effort to adapt military capabilities to adapt to changing threats, and that drones play a key role in modern conflict zones. The agency noted that recent high-intensity conflicts have highlighted the need for medium-altitude, long-endurance, low-cost, multi-mission, jamming-resistant and rapidly deployable UAVs. MALE UAVs are typically used for reconnaissance, surveillance, intelligence and light attack roles.
Eurodrone Delays and New Strategy
The DGA statement said the signed agreements were “a decisive step in accelerating the Ministry of Armed Forces’ MALE drone strategy” and “will make it possible to create the best operational solution while respecting time and cost constraints.”
Delays to the Eurodrone MALE drone, developed by Airbus, Dassault Aviation and Leonardo, have forced countries such as France and Germany to rely on foreign alternatives such as General Atomics’ MQ-9 Reaper and Israel Aerospace Industries’ IAI Heron, while also increasing the program’s costs and risking technical obsolescence. The Eurodrone’s first prototype flight, originally scheduled for entry into service by 2025, is now scheduled for mid-2027, with Airbus aiming for entry into service by the end of the decade.
The DGA said the signed demonstrator contracts will add options and create export opportunities, demonstrating its commitment to creating a competitive MALE drone industry that will benefit the French armed forces. The initial budget is modest, with the DGA providing a total of around €10 million (US$12 million) for the five projects.
Different MALE UAV Solutions Offered by Companies
Five companies offer drones under the MALE label that vary greatly in size, payload, cost and durability:
- Turgis Gaillard: It has a wingspan of 22 meters, an endurance of more than 20 hours, and a weapons load of 1 metric ton. Aarok unmanned aerial vehicle The first flight of Aarok, which is expected to cost between 10 million and 30 million euros, is planned for the end of the year.
- SE Aviation: It has a wingspan of approximately 8,7 meters. Driade drone According to the company, the drone will have a payload capacity of 470 kilograms and an endurance of 36 hours in reconnaissance configuration. Driade, which is expected to be priced under 5 million euros, is planned to conduct autonomous flight tests this year.
- Aura Aero: MALE unmanned aerial vehicle under DGA contract Enbata will develop.
- Fly-R: Featuring a diamond-shaped combined wing configuration, it offers a maximum payload of 600 kilograms and an endurance of 25 hours. R2-600 MALE unmanned aerial vehicle signed an agreement with DGA for.
- Therefore: The company will develop a drone project as part of a broader push to expand its defense business. Daher plans to test an unmanned aircraft by the end of 2025.
Other MALE drones on display at the Paris Air Show include Bayraktar Akinci UAV, Turkish Aerospace Industries Aksungur drone a mock-up, produced by General Atomics MQ-9 Reaper and China Aviation Industry Corporation Wing Loong The models in the series were included. Safran was used by the French army Patroller MALE drone Airbus introduced its larger than rivals Eurodrone's mock-up and developed for the Spanish armed forces Sirtap unmanned aerial vehicle He also presented a model.
