Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
France Contracts Daher and Thales To Develop MALE Drone
A demonstrator is expected to be available for flight testing no later than the end of 2026
Daher defense press conference
Daher executives explained the award of a MALE drone demonstrator contract from the French government. © AIN/Charles Alcock

France’s DGA defense procurement agency has selected Daher and Thales as the main partners in a consortium to develop a medium-altitude long endurance (MALE) drone demonstrator. As part of efforts to expedite the availability of sovereign French capability by 2030, the partners have committed to conducting a remotely-piloted flight demonstration and providing a full technical specification by the end of 2026.

Daher will provide an as-yet unspecified aircraft platform to be combined with Thales’ ground station, ground-to-air data link, and flight control system. DGA said the forthcoming MALE platform is intended to complement France’s current drone capability.