The Bundeswehr can participate financially in the quadrolateral project for the development and procurement of the Eurodrone. On April 14, 2021, the Bundestag committees for defense and budgetary affairs approved the corresponding 25 million euro proposal and released budget funds amounting to 3.1 billion euros.
Germany, France, Italy and Spain want to jointly develop and manufacture the remotely piloted aircraft (Remotely Piloted Aircraft System, RPAS) intended for medium altitudes and long flight durations (Medium Altitude, Long Endurance, MALE) using European technology under the name Eurodrone. By the beginning of the 2030s, the Eurodrone is expected to take over the reconnaissance tasks that have previously been carried out for the Bundeswehr by rented Heron 1 and Heron TP. The Euro drone is capable of being armed. Germany can only use this option after the project has been discussed again in parliament.
The drone, which weighs around eleven tons (maximum take-off weight), is powered by two turboprop engines and is designed for uninterrupted operation of more than 24 hours. With a length of 16.4 meters and a wingspan of 30 meters, the aircraft can carry 2.3 tons of payload (electro-optical, infrared and radar sensors, signal-detecting reconnaissance, communications equipment and, if necessary, weapons) at an altitude of up to 13,500 meters. The machine flies at a speed of around 500 km/h. The multinationally developed systems can be expanded and supplemented by the participating nations.
Once the other nations involved in the PESCO project have completed their national endorsement processes, OCCAR can conclude the contract with the industrial consortium led by Airbus Defense and Space. The consortium includes Dassault from France and Leonardo from Italy. A Spanish share of the added value is realized via Airbus. The contract is intended to cover the development of the Eurodrone, the production of 60 aircraft and 40 ground stations (cockpits on the ground) and operational support in the first five years. Germany is to receive 21 aircraft, France eight, Italy 16 and Spain 15 aircraft.
The European in-house development is intended to deliver precise intelligence results in national and alliance defense, but also in crisis prevention and crisis response operations. The Eurodrone should be able to fly in European airspace in basic operation.
Gerhard Heiming
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