The French Defence Procurement Agency (DGA) has selected Daher as one of five companies to develop a Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) drone demonstrator, marking a strategic step forward for the manufacturer’s defence ambitions. The announcement, made at the Paris Air Show, highlights Daher’s growing role in France’s defence industrial base and its ability to deliver scalable drone production capabilities by the end of the decade.
The MALE drone initiative forms part of France’s broader efforts to reinforce its technological sovereignty and enhance operational capabilities. Responding to a DGA call for proposals issued to around 10 European manufacturers, Daher’s selected project includes a flight demonstration and full technical specification by the end of 2026. The objective is to establish an operational, sovereign drone capability by 2030.
Daher is collaborating with Thales, which will supply the ground control station, data link, command and control systems, and flight control systems. Together, they aim to deliver a “Plug & Fly” solution based on a certified CS-23 light aviation platform. The system is designed for rapid deployment and can support both piloted and unmanned operations.
“Our Plug & Fly drone solution enables the rapid conversion of an existing aircraft into a remotely piloted or autonomous platform without redesigning its architecture,” said Pascal Laguerre, Daher’s Chief Technology Officer. “This modularity and fast integration respond directly to the Ministry of the Armed Forces’ expectations for agility and technological sovereignty.”
The prototype’s remotely piloted flight demonstration could take place in as little as six months—well ahead of the DGA’s anticipated 18-month timeline. The proposed drone platform is compatible with French and ITAR-free defence systems, ensuring greater strategic independence and operational flexibility, including use in hostile or densely populated environments.
“With more than 30 years of experience with our TBM and Kodiak aircraft, Daher is now a key strategic player in MALE drone development,” added Nicolas Chabbert, Senior Vice President of Daher’s Aircraft Division. “We provide a sovereign, mature, and agile response to today’s strategic challenges.”
