Daher selected by the French DGA to develop a MALE drone demonstrator

 

Daher and the DGA signing the MALE (Medium Altitude Long Endurance) drone demonstrator contract at the Paris Air Show (source: Daher)

Daher has announced the launch of a joint end-of-life aerospace recycling programme for commercial aircraft production with Toray and Tarmac Aerosave and the delivery of the 600th TBM 900-series airplane on the Paris Air Show. But the event was also an opportunity to reveal a partnership to develop a MALE drone demonstrator. The partnership highlights Daher’s industrial capabilities. To be noted that the strategic defence and sovereignty sectors accounted for 15.5% of the company’s revenue in 2024, totalling €300 million (US$350.74 million).

In its call for proposals, the DGA indicated that it was seeking approximately 10 European industrial players to develop large MALE drones that could conduct long-duration operations, including in hostile environments, so as to complement France’s current drone capabilities. The DGA requests a remotely piloted flight demonstration and a full technical specification by the end of 2026, with a goal of achieving an operational sovereign capability by 2030.

Daher joined forces with Thales to respond to the call for proposals. The latter provides a ground station, a ground-to-air command and control data link and flight control systems, while Daher leverages its aircraft manufacturing expertise to offer a “Plug & Fly” solution based on a certified CS 23 (light aviation) platform, compatible with French and ITAR-free (International Traffic in Arms Regulations – a set of U.S. Department of State regulations controlling the export of defence and military technologies) defence electronics systems. Daher says that the platform will be robust, reliable, secure and adaptable, enabling manned or unmanned operations in any environment, even if it is heavily populated or hostile.

Daher and Thales expect to be able to present the unmanned flight demonstration within six months, whereas the call for proposals stipulated an 18-month deadline.

Nicolas Chabbert, Senior Vice President of Daher’s Aircraft Division, stated: “With more than 30 years of experience with our TBM and Kodiak products, Daher is now a key strategic player in the development and delivery of MALE drones. We provide a sovereign, mature, and agile response to today’s strategic challenges.”

Pascal Laguerre, the Chief Technology Officer at Daher, added: “With our Plug & Fly drone solution, an existing aircraft can be rapidly converted into an autonomous or remotely piloted platform without rethinking the entire architecture. This approach simplifies integration and accelerates deployment – elements that are perfectly aligned with the French Ministry of Armed Forces’ expectations for responsiveness, modularity, and technological sovereignty.”

Daher has been working with the French Ministry of the Armed Forces for a long time and across a wide range of areas, such as aircraft for liaison flights and training, maintenance of aircraft and helicopter fleets and logistics. The group also works with major industry players, namely Dassault, Boeing and Airbus Helicopters.

Drones widely incorporate composite materials, particularly for their lightness, strength and aerodynamic performance.