Turgis Gaillard’s AAROK drone completes first successful flight in Blois-Le Breuil

Fanny Turgis, President of Turgis Gaillard, said: “Today’s flight is a decisive step in the development of the AAROK. It crowns four years of major efforts to bring the first European MALE drone to life. The entire team has worked tirelessly to transform a simple idea into a completed aircraft, as the AAROK has already demonstrated great maturity during this first flight.”

Patrick Gaillard, Managing Director of Turgis Gaillard, added: “The level of maturity demonstrated is the main lesson of this first flight. As during the high-speed taxiing campaign, everything went as we had anticipated. The aircraft showed sound behaviour, a clean take-off, an impressive rate of climb, and all the parameters were in line with forecasts. These successes give us great confidence for the next stages.”

The AAROK is designed to meet the requirements of French and allied forces with a large drone capable of intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions, as well as strike operations. With a maximum take-off weight of 5.5 tonnes, a weapons payload of 1.5 tonnes and a 1,200 horsepower engine, the AAROK has no equivalent in Europe. It represents a sovereign, economic and effective option to replace American drones of the same category.

During a visit to the company’s facilities at Blois-Le Breuil aerodrome on 27 February 2025, Sébastien Lecornu, then Minister of the Armed Forces, emphasised the importance of the project for the French military. He highlighted the need to gather long-range intelligence, to ensure the protection of territorial waters, and to conduct support missions for forces at distance from anti-aircraft threats. This interest was followed by financial support from the Directorate General of Armaments, announced at the Paris Air Show 2025, to assist the continuation of development.

All employees of Turgis Gaillard are now engaged in the test programme, determined to make the AAROK available to the French armed forces and their allies as quickly as possible. Founded in 2011, Turgis Gaillard is a French industrial group specialising in aerospace and defence systems, vehicle maintenance and industrial services, generating €80 million in revenue and employing 400 people.