Stealth combat drone: France gives Dassault Aviation the go-ahead for a Rafale companion

France has commissioned Dassault Aviation to develop an unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV) – Defence Minister Sébastien Lecornu gave the go-ahead a few days ago. The combat drone is to complement the future Rafale F5 standard after 2030. Lecornu used a ceremony at Saint-Dizier air base for the announcement: the French Strategic Air Forces (FAS) were marking their 60th anniversary there.

Éric Trappier, Chairman and CEO of Dassault Aviation, said: “This stealth combat drone will contribute to the technological and operational superiority of the French Air Force by 2033. It is significant that the project is being launched today, on the 60th anniversary of the Strategic Air Forces and the 90th anniversary of the Air and Space Force: in aviation – a highly complex field – the future is deeply rooted, and innovation builds on experience”. He added: “Dassault Aviation and its partners are proud to serve the French armed forces and the French procurement agency (DGA). Their renewed trust honours and obliges us.”

What the combat drone is to be capable of

The FAS and Dassault see the unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) as a complement to the Rafale, suitable for joint combat. Planned features include stealth technologies, autonomous control (with man-in-the-loop), internal payload capacity and more. The drone is also to evolve with future threats. Together with the Rafale F5, according to a Dassault release, it is to “secure France's independence and capability superiority in the decades to come”.

According to the same release, the unmanned combat aircraft will also benefit from the nEUROn programme. Led by Dassault Aviation, this programme, launched in 2003, pooled the aviation resources of six European countries. To date, Europe's first stealth UCAV demonstrator has completed more than 170 test flights.