Eurodrone Programme : India Joined
India has joined Eurodrone programme as an observer state.
- Eurodrone or Medium Altitude Long Endurance Remotely Piloted Aircraft System (MALE RPAS) is a twin-turboprop MALE Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV).
- It has a maximum mission payload of 2.3 tonnes and an endurance period, maximum time an aircraft can stay in the air using a single load of fuel, of up to 40 hours.
- It offers superior capabilities compared to other existing remotely piloted aircraft systems.
- Equipped with a twin-engine configuration, the drone is designed for operations in diverse environments, including severe weather conditions.
- It is a remotely piloted aircraft system (RPAS) designed for long-endurance missions such as intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition, and reconnaissance (ISTAR), maritime surveillance, anti-submarine warfare and airborne early warning.
- It is the first RPAS natively designed for integration into civil airspace.
- Eurodrone Programme is part of Europe’s collective defence strategy, reducing reliance on US and Israeli platforms such as the Reaper and Heron drones, respectively.
- It is a 4-nation development programme of Germany, France, Italy and Spain, led by the Organisation for Joint Armament Cooperation (OCCAR).
- Airbus Defence and Space (GER) is the Industrial Prime together with Leonardo (ITA), Dassault Aviation (FRA) and Airbus Defence and Space (SPA) acting as Major Subcontractors (MSC).
- Germany takes the role of Lead Nation for the programme.
