The meeting saw participation from various stakeholders, including representatives from ADS GmbH as the prime contractor, ADS S.A.U. as the engine integrator, AVIO AERO as the engine manufacturer, EASA as the certification authority, national certification experts, and OCCAR staff. Key milestones towards obtaining the engine’s type certificate from EASA were thoroughly discussed and analyzed.
The Eurodrone project, managed under the guidance of OCCAR and supported by Germany, France, Spain, and Italy, aims to develop a European MALE RPAS, also known as the Eurodrone. This initiative seeks to reduce Europe’s reliance on non-EU manufacturers for Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition, and Reconnaissance (ISTAR) capabilities, thereby strengthening European strategic sovereignty. The Eurodrone is expected to play a vital role in international conflict prevention and crisis management, particularly in ISTAR missions. It is designed to integrate seamlessly into civil air traffic and operate in non-segregated airspace, representing a significant advancement in European defense technological and industrial capabilities.
Since its inception in 2016, the MALE RPAS Programme has achieved several key milestones, including the successful completion of a Definition Study and the signing of a global contract for the development, production, and initial in-service support of 20 systems. The project has also received financial backing from the European Commission through the European Defence Industrial Development Programme (EDIDP). With the preliminary and critical design reviews completed, the production of the first prototype is anticipated to start in 2024, with delivery expected by the end of the decade.
The Eurodrone is set to become a cornerstone of the Future Combat Air System (FCAS), enhancing collaborative combat capabilities and securing Europe’s position in advanced military technologies.
