• Naval Warfare

  Normandie handed over to French DGA

  22nd July 2019

  Normandie, the sixth multi-mission frigate (FREMM) built for the French Navy was handed over to France’s Directorate General of Armament (DGA) in Brest on 16 …

• Land Warfare

  Insight: French vehicle competitions heat up

  23rd July 2019

  France continues to march forward with its Scorpion modernisation programme, with the recent delivery of the first Griffon multirole armoured vehicles (VBMR) on schedule this …

• Military Logistics

  First French C-130H cockpit modernised

  25th July 2019

  Collins Aerospace Systems has completed the first C-130 Hercules cockpit modernisation for the French Air Force, the company announced on 23 July. The company is …

• Land Warfare

  French army presented with first Griffon 6x6

  5th July 2019

  The French army has been presented with its first Griffon Véhicule Blindé Multi-Rôles (VBMR) 6x6 from the consortium of manufacturers that develop the vehicle, during …

• Land Warfare

  Contract awarded for supply of armoured vehicles to Belgium

  1st July 2019

  A government-to-government strategic agreement between France and Belgium project has come into effect, and a subsequent contract for the procurement of armoured vehicles for the …

• Special Operations

  Safran's first MFF delivery due

  27th June 2019

  Safran will deliver its first military freefall (MFF) ensemble to the French Army in the final quarter of 2019 as part of the Multi-Mission Parachute …

• Digital Battlespace

  Thales gets Syracuse 4 ground segment work

  21st June 2019

  Thales has received a contract from the French defence procurement agency (DGA) to design and build the ground segment for the next-generation Syracuse 4 satellite …

• Defence Helicopter

  Paris Air Show: FlytX for France's future Joint Light Helicopter

  19th June 2019

  The French defence procurement agency (DGA) has selected Thales' FlytX avionics suite for its future H160M Joint Light Helicopter, Thales announced on 14 June.The FlytX …

• Defence Helicopter

  France orders more H225M helicopters

  17th June 2019

  Airbus Helicopters has received an order from the French Defence Procurement Agency DGA for an additional H225M for the French Air Force. The aircraft will …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Paris Air Show: Patroller enters final qualification phase

  18th June 2019

  Safran’s Patroller UAS has entered its final phase of industrial qualification at the Istres DGA flight test center in southern France, the company announced on …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Paris Air Show: Airbus eyes up maiden VSR700 prototype flight

  10th June 2019

  Airbus is building towards its first flight of the VSR700 rotary-wing TUAS prototype this year - an occasion that will see the vehicle tested without a …

• Digital Battlespace

  Thales to expand big data capabilities

  24th May 2019

  Thales, in partnership with Sopra Steria, has been selected by the French defence procurement agency (DGA) to implement the second phase of the ARTEMIS programme, …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  France to arm MQ-9 Reapers with GBU-12 bombs

  28th March 2019

  The French Air Force is to weaponise its MQ-9 Reaper Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) with GBU-12 Paveway II laser guided bombs, in a move that …

• Digital Battlespace

  Thales receives French order for Coast Watcher 100

  13th March 2019

  Thales has received an order from the French defence procurement agency (DGA) to supply two Coast Watcher 100 coastal surveillance radars. The radars will be …

• Defence Notes

  MBDA encouraged by orders from ‘complex and challenging’ year

  20th March 2019

  Weapons manufacturer MBDA is taking heart from a 2018 orders intake which amounted to €4 billion ($4.6 billion), equivalent to €2.5 billion from domestic markets …

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Military UAS - micro, Military UAS - rotary-wing

  Sonora [France]

  Background Aerial Drone Pact At Eurosatory 2024, the Aerial Drone Pact was signed. The Direction générale de l’armement (DGA) is managing the pact with the support of ...

• Military UAS - micro, Military UAS - rotary-wing

  Parrot Anafi [France]

  Programme Background Requriment In February 2020, the French DGA procurement agency released a tender calling for a quadcopter micro UAS to equip all branches of ...

• Loitering munitions

  Chorus (Contracted) [France]

  Background Production start In Janurary 2026, French press, such as L’Usine Nouvelle, reported that Renault, in collaboration with Turgis Gaillard, was to begin low-rate production ...

• Loitering munitions

  Chorus (Uncontracted) [France]

  Background Initial development contract In Janurary 2026, French press, such as L’Usine Nouvelle, reported that Renault, in collaboration with Turgis Gaillard, was to begin low-rate ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - mini

  Onboard Mini-Drone Systems (SMDM) (1-68) [France]

  Background First Contract In February 2021, the French Directorate General of Armaments (DGA) announced a €19.7 million ($23.30 million) contract it had awarded Survey Copter, a subsidiary of Airbus ...

• Transport/tanker aircraft

  A330 MRTT (1-12) [France]

  In November 2014, The French Defence Procurement Agency (DGA) has confirmed purchase of 12 A330 MRTT air-to-air refuelling aircraft from Airbus. The contract will cover the development and ...

• Fighter - multirole

  Rafale [France]

  Programme Background Rafale F4 is the latest configuration of the Rafale fighter jet family. New functions will also be developed to improve the aircraft’s capabilities ...

• Military UAS - small

  Light Tactical Support Intelligence Drone Systems (SDLRAT) (1-30) [France]

  Background Aftermath of SDT To fill the capability void left by the cancellation of the second section of the Tactical Drone System (SDT) programme, the French ...

• Landing craft and hovercraft

  EDA-S [France]

  Programme Background Following the announcement of the 14-ship contract, the DGA approved the design of the first two standard amphibious landing craft (EDA-S) in October 2019, ...

• Military UAS - small

  Light Tactical Support Intelligence Drone Systems (SDLRAT) (31-140) [France]

  Background Aftermath of SDT To fill the capability void left by the cancellation of the second section of the Tactical Drone System (SDT) programme, the French ...

• Military UAS - tactical

  Acquisition of an Initial Depth Support Drone Capacity (ADAPT) [France]

  Background Aftermath of SDT To fill the capability void left by the cancellation of the second section of the Tactical Drone System (SDT) programme, three ...

• UAS: communication systems

  UAS: communication systems | Acquisition of an Initial Depth Support Drone Capacity (ADAPT) [France]

  The Acquisition of an Initial Depth Support Drone Capacity (ADAPT) is a French procurement programme intended to partially replace the now-cancelled second stage of the Tactical Drone ...

• UAS: flight control systems

  UAS: flight control systems | Acquisition of an Initial Depth Support Drone Capacity (ADAPT) [France]

  The Acquisition of an Initial Depth Support Drone Capacity (ADAPT) is a French procurement programme intended to partially replace the now-cancelled second stage of the Tactical Drone ...

• Loitering munitions

  Deluge (First batch) [France]

  Background Unveiling MBDA unveiled a scale model of the One-Way Effector (OWE), later named the Deluge, at the Paris Air Show 2025. As Breaking Defence reported at the ...

• Military UAS - tactical

  VSR-700: Navy Aerial Drone System (SDAM) [France]

  Background Requirement The requirement for the SDAM programme was a rotary-wing VTOL-capable UAV with a modular configuration that can host a range of payloads. Initally, ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Military - UUVs

  Uncrewed Combat Underwater Vehicle (UCUV)

  The Uncrewed Combat Underwater Vehicle (UCUV) is an uncrewed underwater vessel (UUV) being developed and built by France's Naval Group for the French Defence Procurement Agency (DGA).

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - mini

  Aliaca Evo

  The U010 Aliaca Evo, or DVF 2000 VT, is an electrically powered mini-UAV designed to perform ISR missions, coastal surveillance, convoy protection and powerline and pipeline monitoring. ...

• Military UAS - mini, Military UAS - rotary-wing

  Matrice 600

  The Matrice 600, or M600, is a DJI rotary-wing UAV designed primarily for professional aerial photography and industrial applications. It was designed to closely integrate various ...

• Air: mission management systems

  MPME

  Safran Electronics & Defense has developed the MPME (Module de préparation de mission pour equipages d’hélicoptères) mission planning system for use by French Army Gazelle, ...

• Loitering munitions

  Chorus

  The Chorus is a long-range loitering munition being produced by Renault in collaboration with Turgis Gaillard for the French Directorate General of Armaments (DGA). Little ...

• Military UAS - MALE

  ENBATA

  ENBATA is a multi-mission, ITAR-free MALE UAV produced by the French company Aura Aero. The aircraft is under development at the request of the General Directorate ...

• EO/IR systems, Sea: ship surveillance and fire control systems

  AGILE

  The Airborne Gyro-stabilised IR Light Equipment (AGILE) was a dual/tri/quad sensor system for day and night surveillance, observation, border and maritime patrol, law enforcement, and ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - small

  Repace

  The Repace is a hydrogen-powered drone that the Direction générale de l'armement (DGA) unveiled in November 2023. The drone's development was led by reeachers from the Centre de ...

• Land: battle management systems

  COFEUX

  COFEUX is a tactical situation management system developed for French Army helicopters (Tiger and NH90). It includes a digital mapping module with an ‘inter-visibility’ function ...

• Major networking projects

  MOIE SIC Terre

  In January 2005, France’s DGA defence procurement agency awarded Thales (70%), and partner EADS DCS (30%), a $230 million contract for the MOIE SIC Terre ...

• Military UAS - MALE

  EyePulse

  The EyePulse is a demonstrator for a MALE-UAV from Daher. The UAV was developed in response to the French Directorate General of Armaments’ (DGA) effort to acquire ...

• Laser-directed energy weapons

  HELMA-P

  The HELMA-P laser, manufactured by Cilas, is designed to safeguard sensitive locations, military bases, critical infrastructure, and public gatherings. The laser system is able to ...

• Fast attack/patrol craft and interceptors

  VFM (Vedettes de Fusiliers Marins) - ITC 15

  In March 2018, the French DGA awarded a contract to Ufast for the construction of 12 VFM (Vedettes de Fusiliers Marins) fast patrol boats. The ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - small

  Aliaca VTOL

  Unveiled in April 2025, the U010 Aliaca VTOL is, as its name suggests, a VTOL-capable variant of the Aliaca from Survey Copter, an Airbus Defence & Space subsidiary. As ...

• Military UAS - MALE

  R2-600

  The R2-600 is a MALE UAV manufactured by Fly-R. It is designed to conduct surveillance, reconnaissance, intelligence (ISR) missions, and offensive operations. It features a rhomboid wing design and ...