• India has officially joined the MALE RPAS (Medium-Altitude Long-Endurance Remotely Piloted Aircraft System) programme, also known as Eurodrone programme, as an Observer State.

• The Aeronautical Development Establishment, DRDO shall be representing India in the Eurodrone programme. 

• It is a significant milestone in multilateral collaboration between India and the European Union for the development of defence technologies.

What is Eurodrone programme?

• The MALE RPAS programme (Eurodrone) is a joint European programme to answer future Uncrewed Aircraft System (UAS) requirements.

• Eurodrone is a four-nation development programme of Germany, France, Italy and Spain, led by the Organisation for Joint Armament Cooperation (OCCAR). 

• The programme was launched in 2016. 

• Germany takes the role of lead nation for the programme.

• Airbus Defence and Space (GER) is the industrial prime together with Leonardo (ITA), Dassault Aviation (FRA) and Airbus Defence and Space (SPA) acting as major sub-contractors. 

• Japan joined as an Observer State in the programme in November 2023.

• Eurodrone will be operated worldwide to support ISTAR (Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition and Reconnaissance) missions.

• It is the first Remotely Piloted Aircraft System (RPAS) natively designed for integration into civil airspace.

• It is based on a twin-turboprop propulsion system, which will supply ample on-board energy for the mission system. It will also provide redundancy to limit restrictions when operating over European densely populated ground and unrestricted airspace.

• Its design philosophy and certification baseline will allow for safe and reliable operations in all kinds of environments and weather situations, including severe cold as well as hot and high climatic conditions.

• Its twin engine configuration provides for additional redundancy to ensure successful mission completion under any circumstances.

• The maximum mission payload (excluding fuel) capability of 2.3 tonnes combined with a maximum endurance of up to 40 hours provide Eurodrone with a payload/endurance capability that is superior to any other RPAS currently available.

• In 2021, the Programme was awarded financial support from the European Commission in the frame of the European Defence Industrial Development Programme (EDIDP).

• After completion of the first development design reviews, the Preliminary Design Review (PDR) and the Critical Design Review (CDR), the manufacture of the first prototype is expected to commence soon and the delivery of serial items to PPS is targeted by the end of the decade.

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