France's stealth combat drone project faces delays as focus shifts to collaborative combat aircraft, with U.S. and European models vying for military attention.
UCAV project delayed
In October 2024, the French Ministry of the Armed Forces announced plans to develop a stealth combat drone, known as a UCAV, to accompany the upgraded Rafale fighter jet. This project is part of the 2024-30 Military Programming Act and aims to enhance French military capabilities by 2033.Technological foundation
The UCAV is expected to build on the nEUROn program, which produced the first European combat drone demonstrator. Dassault Aviation, the aircraft manufacturer, emphasized that the UCAV will use stealth technology, autonomous systems with human oversight, and internal weapons storage to support collaborative combat operations.Collaborative combat drones in focus
The Air and Space Force (AAE) is also interested in collaborative combat aircraft (CCA), which are different from the UCAV. General Jerome Bellanger noted that these drones are already used by the U.S., China, and Australia. They are designed to break enemy air defenses at a lower cost than traditional fighter jets.Development delays and budget issues
As of July 2024, Dassault Aviation had not yet received a contract to develop the UCAV. Eric Trappier, CEO of Dassault, expressed disappointment but noted that budget constraints and evolving requirements had delayed the project. The UCAV is still seen as a complement to fighter aircraft.Industry responses and research
The General Directorate of Armaments (DGA) issued a request for information on CCA in 2026, aiming to explore their potential for various missions, including reconnaissance, electronic warfare, and destroying enemy air defenses. The Ministry of the Armed Forces is now studying how these drones could be used operationally, potentially leading to a 2028 test with a fighter and a CCA.International CCA landscape
Currently, most CCA are developed by U.S. companies, such as Lockheed Martin and Boeing. European efforts include the CA-1 Europa by Helsing, which aims to capture interest from the AAE. However, no French company has yet proposed a CCA, raising questions about the future of the UCAV project.
