“I must admit to you that there is a delay in the future European drone, the medium altitude, long endurance system (Male)”Minister of the Armed Forces Sébastien Lecornu explained to senators in mid-October. That is to say a year late for the Eurodrone, he clarified a little later during his hearing in the Senate. Of the order of a year, this delay of the program, which is still under the spotlight of criticism, was approved by the OJoint Armaments Cooperation Organization (OCCAr). Sébastien Lecornu also stressed that he would discuss it “with the industrialists concerned”including the prime contractor for the Eurodrone, Airbus Defense & Space GmbH (Airbus Germany).
The minister also considered that he “We will have to ask ourselves the question of penalties”linked to the Eurodrone program. Which should not excite Airbus, haunted by the repeated provisions on the A400M. Nevertheless, the European group has apparently shielded itself against any financial slippage to avoid falling back into the nightmare of the European military transport plane. France has already signed a contract for the purchase of four systems (three drones and two ground stations per system) and five years of support out of the six planned (1.8 billion euros out of a total of 7.1 billion euros). In the 2025 finance project, the ministry plans to mobilize 115 million euros in payment credits (compared to 212 million in 2024). The Eurodrone must gradually succeed the American Reaper by 2030.
A delay that can still be absorbed?
According to our information, this delay, which concerns the current phase, is not yet considered a definitive delay in the program (delay in completion): manufacturers could still absorb all or part of this new calendar slippage. And, currently OCCAr and manufacturers are considering a catch-up plan to deliver the first European Male drones before 2030, i.e. before the end of the decade, the deadline set by client nations. Several solutions, some classic, are available to manufacturers: parallelize certain developments and create standards or steps like the A400M, the Rafale… For the moment, on the Eurodrone, there is no doesn't have one.
But, with the encouragement of client nations and the OCCAr, manufacturers could ultimately move towards a slightly more daring approach by taking risks and having an agile approach. All without waiting to have a 100% ready prototype to carry out a first flight planned for 2027 and the delivery of a first system in 2029. A bet which could save time for the program. This method can cost manufacturers more due to the inherent risks but, ultimately, saves them time. Which would also save money…
For Sébastien Lecornu, “the challenge now is to have a delivery to the forces of a drone which is still relevant from an operational point of view. It is also one of the points of conversation that must be had with the various partners”. France's main objective is to have a capacity of deployable MALE drones by 2030 that can be used sovereignly and without constraints in areas of interest to carry out ISTAR type missions (Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition and Reconnaissance) and neutralization of military objectives.
Stopping or redefining the program?
But the Minister of the Armed Forces went a little further on the future of the Eurodrone: should we stop it or redefine it? For the moment, none of the countries in the program, joined by Japan at the end of 2023, have thrown in the towel (Germany, Spain, France and Italy). Relaunched by the President of the Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defense Cédric Perrin on the financial impact of an upcoming decision on this program, Sébastien Lecornu responded: “Whatever happens there is a financial impact in one direction or another: either we decide to abandon it unilaterally – I am aware of the shock of what I am saying – and by definition, it can cost as much as if you actually ordered the item; or we decide collectively to develop the program”. And the minister even mentioned in the audio version of the hearing “a redefinition of the program”.
Today, the air forces of client nations could actually ask OCCAr to work on an evolution of the Eurodrone program. And more precisely by adding missions linked to new needs, which had not been initially identified by operational staff. Manufacturers are currently answering questions from the air forces. For the moment, these projects still remain in the state of reflection. But, with the Eurodrone, we are never sure of the end of the story… Especially since the European drone is an expert in turbulence!
