A new phase for the European Drone has started since the beginning of September. The contract for the definition study of the European Drone (Male RPAS - Medium Altitude Long Endurance Remotely Piloted Aircraft System), awarded to Leonardo-Finmeccanica, Airbus and Dassault Aviation, was formalized during a meeting to start the project chaired from OCCAR, the European Organization for armaments cooperation. Present representatives of the industries involved and of the countries participating in the program: Italy, France, Germany and Spain.
The European Drone will be a new generation remote piloted aerial system dedicated to ISTAR surveillance and defense missions (Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition and Reconnaissance - Intelligence, Surveillance, Objective Acquisition and Reconnaissance). Key objectives of the program are also certification and integration into the European air traffic system, an environment characterized by high density.
The definition study, which will last two years starting from September 2016, will be carried out jointly and with equal work quotas by Leonardo-Finmeccanica, Airbus and Dassault Aviation as co-contractors.
The start of the development phase of the project is scheduled for the 2018, the first flight of the prototype in the 2023 and the first delivery in the 2025.
The operational requirements of the nations involved in the program will be defined in close collaboration with the Armed Forces of the respective countries.
"The European Male RPAS program is a unique opportunity to promote the growth of technological skills, competences and highly qualified jobs, of fundamental importance for Europe. We will guarantee nations technological and operational sovereignty based on the experience of decades of European cooperation in the field of defense ", said Filippo Bagnato, Head of the Aircraft Division of Leonardo-Finmeccanica.
"Successfully bringing nations, industries and ministries of defense together to improve European sovereignty and independence is a particularly important mission and today's announcement represents a new milestone in this partnership," said Dirk Hoke, CEO of Airbus Defense and Space.
"This cooperation program will help ensure European industry leadership and autonomy in the strategic surveillance drone sector and provide the Armed Forces with high-performance operating systems," said Eric Trappier, President and CEO of Dassault Aviation.
(photo: Dassault)
