The cooperation is rooted in the Franco-German Treaty on Cooperation and Integration signed in Aachen in 2019, and aligns with the broader vision of a unified European defence policy. The new weapon family will combine the technological strengths of both companies in air-to-ground systems.
By drawing on their respective expertise, Diehl Defence and Safran aim to deliver scalable and modular products that enhance capability while keeping investment low. Development cycles will be shortened, with performance optimised using advanced production tools from both firms.
The new munitions will include modular payloads specifically engineered to minimise collateral damage, especially in urban or complex operational environments. Precision targeting will be achieved through optronic systems, inertial navigation, and integrated artificial intelligence processing.
Dr. Harald Buschek, Chief Program Officer at Diehl Defence, stated: “The collaboration between our two companies not only underscores our constant commitment to advancing defence capabilities, but also highlights the importance of European cooperation within the defence sector. By uniting our strengths, we aim to set new standards in precision, efficiency and safety for the armed forces.”
Alexandre Ziegler, Head of Defense Global Business Unit at Safran Electronics & Defense, added: “This partnership perfectly showcases the ability of European defence industries to collaborate in developing tomorrow’s solutions. By combining the complementary expertise of Diehl Defence and Safran, we are strengthening Europe’s strategic autonomy and providing our armed forces with modular, high-performance solutions.”
The new products will range from loitering munitions and off-board effectors to tactical air-to-ground weapons, all equipped with standardised interfaces. This will ensure smooth integration across diverse platforms, including retrofitted systems.
