At the Saint-Dizier air base last month, France’s Minister of the Armed Forces and Veterans Affairs, Sébastien Lecornu, unveiled plans to develop a new unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV) that will be introduced to complement the Rafale F5 fighter jet by 2033. This announcement came during a ceremony marking the 60th anniversary of the French Strategic Air Forces (FAS), attended by high-ranking officials, including General Jérôme Bellanger, Chief of Staff of the French Air and Space Force (AAE), and Éric Trappier, Chairman and CEO of Dassault Aviation.
In his statement, Lecornu underscored the importance of innovation and legacy in military aviation. “This stealth combat drone will contribute to the technological and operational superiority of the French Air Force by 2033. It is significant that it is being initiated today, as we mark the 60th anniversary of the Strategic Air Forces and the 90th anniversary of the Air and Space Force: in aeronautics — a highly complex field — the future has deep roots, and innovation is built on experience,” Lecornu stated. Trappier also expressed Dassault Aviation’s commitment to supporting the French Armed Forces and the Defense Procurement Agency (DGA) in achieving these ambitious goals.
The forthcoming UCAV will benefit from the technological breakthroughs and operational lessons of Dassault Aviation’s nEUROn program, Europe’s first stealth UCAV demonstrator. Launched in 2003, the nEUROn program brought together the expertise of six European countries, with Dassault Aviation as the lead contractor. The project’s first successful flight took place in December 2012, and since then, over 170 test flights have been completed, achieving significant milestones in performance, budget, and timeline management.
According to industry experts, the success of the nEUROn program has laid the groundwork for the next generation of aerial combat technology, giving France a critical edge in developing sophisticated, stealth-enabled UCAVs. “The nEUROn provided a testbed for critical stealth and combat technologies, many of which are now foundational for what we are doing with this new UCAV project,” commented a Dassault Aviation representative.
The French Ministry of Armed Forces has also made clear that this new UCAV will go beyond the capabilities demonstrated by nEUROn, incorporating cutting-edge features such as advanced stealth, autonomous operations with human oversight, and modular payload capabilities designed to meet future threats. The introduction of an advanced UCAV to accompany the Rafale F5 signifies a shift in French military strategy, one that embraces unmanned and autonomous technologies for combat and reconnaissance missions. France’s commitment to autonomous drones highlights its focus on enhancing flexibility in missions that demand speed, agility, and lower operational risks.
These UCAVs will function in a supportive role to manned aircraft, thus allowing the French Air Force to execute complex operations with improved accuracy and efficiency. Specifically, this UCAV will act as a “loyal wingman” to the Rafale F5, coordinating attacks, collecting real-time intelligence, and engaging enemy assets in hostile environments. Through this collaboration, the Rafale F5 and the UCAV will operate in tandem, reinforcing each other’s strengths and covering potential vulnerabilities.
“The Rafale F5, combined with the new UCAV and their anticipated evolutions, will position France as a leading air power in Europe and globally, ensuring our independence and capability superiority for decades to come,” emphasized Lecornu during the announcement. This interoperability also recalls the role of the Mirage IV strategic bomber, which served as a key component of France’s nuclear deterrence strategy throughout the Cold War, underscoring the historical importance of advanced air capability to France’s national defense posture.
According to Dassault Aviation, this new UCAV will incorporate state-of-the-art stealth technologies designed to evade radar detection, enabling it to penetrate sophisticated enemy defenses and carry out critical missions. In addition to stealth, the drone will employ advanced autonomous control systems, allowing for various levels of human oversight in line with the mission’s complexity. While operators on the ground or in accompanying manned aircraft will retain control in complex or dynamic situations, the UCAV will be capable of autonomous navigation and basic decision-making, thus reducing the need for constant human intervention.
Another standout feature of the UCAV will be its internal payload capacity, optimized to carry a range of munitions and reconnaissance equipment. This internal design not only improves stealth but also enables the drone to execute diverse missions, from ground strikes to electronic warfare and intelligence gathering. The drone’s architecture will be modular, enabling upgrades in response to evolving threats and technologies.
Éric Trappier, Chairman and CEO of Dassault Aviation, highlighted these advancements, noting that “Dassault Aviation and its partners are proud to serve the French Armed Forces and the French Defense Procurement Agency. Their renewed confidence honors and obliges us to push boundaries in military aviation.” By leveraging lessons learned from the nEUROn program, Dassault’s engineers and partners are well-positioned to deliver a system that will be integral to France’s defense strategy in the coming years.
Dassault Aviation has long been at the forefront of French and European military aviation. With over 10,000 military and civil aircraft delivered in more than 90 countries, including 2,700 of its renowned Falcon jets, Dassault’s reputation for innovation is well-established. The Rafale, France’s flagship multirole fighter jet, has proven highly adaptable, serving in diverse environments and missions. Dassault’s portfolio includes the development and support of a wide range of systems, from military drones to space systems, exemplifying its ability to meet a broad spectrum of defense needs.
The company’s 2023 financial performance further underscores its strength, with reported revenues of €4.8 billion and a workforce of 13,500 employees. This financial stability, coupled with a history of technological achievements, positions Dassault as a formidable player in the UCAV market. In addition to supporting France’s defense initiatives, Dassault is likely to play a pivotal role in advancing European capabilities in aerial combat and autonomous technology.
With the announcement of the new UCAV, France is taking a significant step toward reinforcing its air superiority. The development of this drone is anticipated to secure France’s place at the forefront of military aviation innovation, enhancing its defense posture and operational capabilities in a world where threats are increasingly sophisticated and multi-dimensional.
Defense analysts suggest that this UCAV will have broad implications for France’s ability to project power within Europe and beyond. In the European context, the UCAV may influence the continent’s strategic posture as nations seek to assert autonomy in defense manufacturing and reduce dependency on non-European allies. The drone will likely function as a critical component in joint European operations, potentially contributing to NATO missions and other alliances in scenarios demanding high levels of strategic coordination.
Furthermore, the new UCAV project emphasizes France’s commitment to maintaining independence in defense technology. By investing heavily in autonomous and stealth technology, France reinforces its autonomy in military affairs, a stance that has long been central to its national defense policy.
As geopolitical tensions rise globally, France’s development of an advanced UCAV reflects a broader trend of increased defense investments worldwide. The drone could potentially serve as a blueprint for other European nations looking to develop similar technologies, particularly as countries within the European Union explore collaborative defense projects.
France may also consider exports of this UCAV in the future, with significant interest anticipated from nations seeking advanced autonomous aerial combat solutions. Potential export agreements would not only enhance France’s standing as a defense supplier but could also strengthen bilateral relations with allied nations.
The UCAV could play an influential role in cooperative defense projects, particularly in light of France’s leadership in the Future Combat Air System (FCAS) alongside Germany and Spain. This trilateral effort aims to develop a next-generation air combat system by 2040, and France’s new UCAV could potentially integrate with or complement the FCAS initiative, representing a unified European approach to addressing modern threats.
