Nexter selected to develop loitering munition for French military
Nexter will supply the fragmentation warhead for a loitering munition developed for France's Colibri competition. (Photo: author)
Nexter is teaming up with a French UAV manufacturer to develop a fragmentation warhead for a fixed-wing loitering munition with a 40-minute endurance.
France’s Defence Innovation Agency (AID) has selected Nexter and a French UAV manufacturer who wishes to remain anonymous at this stage to develop a loitering munition as part of the Colibri competition.
The companies will supply a loitering munition based on a fixed-wing UAV capable of 40 minutes’ endurance, the time required to to fly to a search area up to 5km away, look for a target (a light vehicle or group of infantry), and return to its launch point if it has not engaged.
The target unit cost is €20,000, ($21,700), which according to the programme director at Nexter is ‘under the price of
Our news & analysis is now part of Defence Insight®
A Basic-level or higher Defence Insight subscription is now required to view this content.
More from Air Warfare
-
![October crewed air review: Israel’s Apache deal bets on crewed aviation in an uncrewed age]()
October crewed air review: Israel’s Apache deal bets on crewed aviation in an uncrewed age
Israel’s $1 billion Apache helicopter order highlights the continued demand for crewed attack aviation, while growing integration with uncrewed systems could shape future modernisation and procurement decisions.
-
![US Navy keeps Super Hornet production restart option open, but without defined cost or timetable]()
US Navy keeps Super Hornet production restart option open, but without defined cost or timetable
The US Navy plans to preserve Super Hornet and Growler tooling as production winds down, with restart costs unassessed and final F/A-18 deliveries expected in late 2027.
-
![Connecting the layers: how networks can secure the future of European air defence]()
Connecting the layers: how networks can secure the future of European air defence
The rise of drones has reshaped the threat landscape for all European militaries. For industry, future defensive strategies must carefully balance a mix of passive and active measures to address the evolving danger, based around a highly integrated and responsive network of sensors and effectors.
-
![Germany could secure greater influence through sixth-generation fighter partnership with Sweden and Spain]()
Germany could secure greater influence through sixth-generation fighter partnership with Sweden and Spain
Germany is assessing potential pathways for a future sixth-generation fighter capability, including discussions with GCAP partners and Sweden.
-
![Quantum Systems details 480km/h Ukrainian interceptor as production scales up]()
Quantum Systems details 480km/h Ukrainian interceptor as production scales up
Quantum Systems’s Ukraine-made interceptor SPYS is thought to cost approximately 10 times less than Russia's jet-powered uncrewed aerial systems and is being produced at scale.
