The ambitious program of European defence: Eurodrone. Airbus and the Organization for Joint Armament Co-operation (Occar) have signed the global Eurodrone contract, which includes the development and production of 20 systems and 5 years of initial in-service support. Airbus Defense and Space GmbH, prime contractor, signed on behalf of the three main subcontractors namely Airbus in Spain, Dassault in France e Leonardo in Italy. For his part, Occar signed on behalf of the four nations involved in the launch of the program: Germany, France, Italy and Spain.
In detail, the Eurodrone is a Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) remotely piloted aerial system with flexible and adaptable capabilities for intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition and reconnaissance missions, but also for operations involving national security.
It is the first MALE designed to meet the requirements for integration into civil airspace, helping to improve "efficiency through the use of direct routes and eliminating the need to locate emergency landing sites before flight". All this will allow reduce CO2 emissions thanks to saving time and fuel.
The aircraft is based on the Digital Design, Manufacturing and Services (DDMS) system, a new digital-centric approach applied by Airbus to how aerospace systems are designed, manufactured and used at all stages of the product. In order to achieve better planning of updates, higher uptime and a reduction of life cycle costs.
“The initiative will make it possible to create the most advanced remotely piloted aircraft system in its segment, will generate more than 7 high-tech jobs within the sector and will strengthen industrial sovereignty, know-how and collaboration between European countries,” commented Mike Schoellhorn, CEO of Airbus Defense and Space.
While Lucio Valerio Cioffi, Director General of Leonardo underlined how Eurodrone "will help support key skills and employment in Europe, providing the Armed Forces with very high performance independent operating systems for the years to come".
