Eurodrone marks a significant milestone in European aerospace, representing the continent’s first remotely piloted aircraft system (RPAS) specifically designed for safe and reliable operations in non-segregated civil airspace. This groundbreaking capability establishes Europe’s sovereign autonomy in the growing field of unmanned aerial systems.
Developed through a collaboration among Germany, France, Italy, and Spain under the leadership of the Organisation for Joint Armament Cooperation (OCCAR), Eurodrone combines the expertise of Airbus Defence and Space, Leonardo, Dassault Aviation, and Airbus Spain. Germany leads the program, with Airbus Defence and Space serving as the industrial prime contractor.
What sets Eurodrone apart is its unmatched multi-mission versatility and payload/endurance performance. The drone can carry up to 2.3 tonnes of payload (excluding fuel) and stay airborne for up to 40 hours — outperforming any comparable RPAS currently available on the market. This enables a wide range of missions including intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition and reconnaissance (ISTAR), armed attack, naval tasks (including anti-submarine warfare), as well as command, control, communications (C³), and airborne early warning (AEW).
A pioneering feature of Eurodrone is its native design for full integration into civil airspace. Certified against NATO’s STANAG 4671 Ed. 3 standards and relevant civil aviation regulations, it can operate seamlessly alongside manned aircraft without segregated flight zones. This is facilitated by a design that separates flight control and mission systems, allowing easy future upgrades to mission payloads without impacting flight certification.
Safety and reliability are cornerstones of Eurodrone’s design philosophy. Its twin-engine configuration ensures redundancy for mission success in diverse and extreme environmental conditions — from severe cold to hot and high-altitude climates.
Eurodrone also guarantees operational sovereignty by providing users complete control over system operations and data management. Secure Line of Sight (LOS) and Beyond Line of Sight (BLOS) data links enable direct, exclusive connectivity to the user’s network infrastructure, ensuring confidential data handling. Crucially, Eurodrone avoids reliance on ITAR-controlled components, reinforcing Europe’s independent RPAS capability.
With Eurodrone, Europe steps confidently into the future of unmanned aerial systems, combining advanced technology, strategic autonomy, and operational flexibility in one comprehensive platform.
| Special Quality | Description |
|---|---|
| Long Endurance | Up to 40 hours continuous flight time, enabling extended missions without interruption. |
| High Payload Capacity | Can carry up to 2.3 tonnes (excluding fuel), allowing for diverse and heavy mission payloads. |
| Multi-Mission Flexibility | Supports a wide range of missions: ISTAR, armed attack, naval operations (including ASW), C³, AEW. |
| Civil Airspace Integration | Natively designed and certified for safe, reliable operations in non-segregated civil airspace. |
| Twin-Engine Redundancy | Dual engines provide enhanced safety and mission reliability in various environmental conditions. |
| Operational Sovereignty | Full user control over system operation and data; avoids reliance on ITAR-restricted components. |
| Advanced Data Links | Secure LOS and BLOS communications enable confidential and direct connectivity to user networks. |
| Modular Mission System Design | Flight and mission systems are segregated, allowing future mission upgrades without recertification. |
| All-Weather Capability | Designed to operate reliably in extreme climates including severe cold, hot, and high-altitude conditions. |
