Eurodrone program advances toward European defence autonomy

The Eurodrone program, or MALE RPAS, has reached a significant milestone. The preliminary design review has been completed, paving the way for the final design and implementation of the unmanned aerial vehicle. The future European MALE-class drone is set to be a cornerstone of future combat aviation systems. It is also expected to support intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition, and reconnaissance (ISTAR) missions.

"Completing the preliminary design review for the development of Eurodrone marks an important step forward for this key European defence program," said Jean-Brice Dumont, Head of Air Power at Airbus Defence and Space. "Progress on the drone brings Europe closer to achieving sovereignty and independence in drone capabilities delivering ISTAR capabilities, which means intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition, and reconnaissance."

Currently, among the Medium-altitude long-endurance (MALE) drones used by European armies, solutions provided by the United States and Israel dominate. Examples include the American MQ-9 Reaper drones. One of its users is Poland, which signed a lease agreement for a single MQ-9A Reaper reconnaissance system in late 2022. This is a temporary solution. The agreement will conclude when Poland acquires its own MALE-class drones. In January 2024, reports surfaced that these might be MQ-9B SkyGuardian drones from General Atomics.

The Eurodrone program is the result of cooperation between the governments of Italy, Spain, Germany, and France, as well as efforts from contractors, including Airbus Defence and Space Spain, Dassault Aviation, and Leonardo, supported by OCCAR (Organization for Joint Armament Cooperation). The program began in 2015, and preliminary plans indicate that the first flight of the European MALE drone will occur in January 2027, with service entry scheduled for 2029.

The Eurodrone has just completed the Preliminary Design Review (PDR). According to Airbus, this included a technical assessment of the design, including wind tunnel tests to verify the aerodynamic configuration. The program is now entering a new phase, culminating in the Critical Design Review (CDR). This is the final step, enabling the completion of the drone's architecture and systems design and preparing the ground for its final implementation.

According to Airbus, the drone, equipped with cutting-edge innovative technology, will become one of the main pillars of future combat aviation systems. It will also provide the "necessary capabilities to prevent international conflicts and crisis management, ensuring operational superiority over nations, especially in the context of intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition, and reconnaissance (ISTAR) missions."

Available information indicates that the European MALE-class drone will have a mass of approximately 11,000 kg, a maximum payload of 2,300 kg, a length of 16 meters, a height of 6 meters, and a wingspan of 26 meters. The two turboprop engines will allow it to reach up to 480 km/h. The drone will operate at an altitude of nearly 14,000 meters. The creators claim that the drone will offer longer operational times than older platforms, better detection of smaller targets from greater distances (in this case, the range is expected to be 1.5 times greater than current platforms), and even up to 20-30% better resolution.