• Training

  Thales to upgrade army training instrumentation

  20th January 2017

  Thales and partner RUAG Defence will upgrade instrumentation for the French Army's live combat training centres under a contract from the French DGA announced on …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Unmanned wagon keeps rolling

  13th January 2017

  The past week has seen a flurry of announcements regarding the military UAV programmes, to both US and international customers, and serves as an indicator …

• Digital Battlespace

  France aims for air-to-ground precision

  11th January 2017

  The French DGA has awarded Safran a contract for the provision of guidance kits for its air-launched bombs. Under the contract, awarded on 29 December, …

• Digital Battlespace

  Safran receives French sub navigation contract

  10th January 2017

  Safran Electronics and Defense will design, develop and build an improved version of the global navigation system currently used on France’s nuclear submarines, the company …

• Special Operations

  France confirms first Scorpion vehicle orders

  9th January 2017

  The first orders will be placed in 2017 for France’s new Griffon and Jaguar vehicles as the French Army’s Scorpion programme continues to move forward.  …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  French DGA selects Spy'Ranger UAS

  6th January 2017

  Thales’ Spy’Ranger mini UAS has been selected by the French armed forces, with the company set to supply up to 70 systems to the DGA …

• Land Warfare

  Laser gun aims for non-lethality

  5th January 2017

  A new non-lethal portable laser system called the Laser for Deterrence and Interception is expected to get a customer within months. Produced by French company …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  FCAS demonstrator phase to start in 2017

  17th December 2016

  Senior officials from the UK and France signed an agreement on 16 December that will enable the next phase of the Future Combat Air System …

• Military Logistics

  UK, France, Spain sign A400M support contract

  9th December 2016

  The UK, France and Spain have signed a long term global support service contract with Airbus Defence and Space for their A400M airlifter fleets, Airbus …

• Training

  I/ITSEC 2016: French Air Force looks to outsource pilot training equipment

  28th November 2016

  France's military procurement agency (DGA) has ‘recommended’ that Babcock France be awarded a contract to provide and maintain a training aircraft fleet and related services …

• Digital Battlespace

  Euronaval 2016: Kelvin Hughes sees French potential

  26th October 2016

  Eager to explore the potential in the French domestic and export markets, UK-based Kelvin Hughes attended Euronaval to make its case for the SharpEye radar. …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Euronaval 2016: New VTOL UAV for French Navy

  20th October 2016

  The focus on unmanned systems at Euronaval continued on Thursday as DCNS and Airbus Helicopters revealed a design for a new VTOL system for the …

• Naval Warfare

  Euronaval 2016: DCNS states its naval case (video)

  18th October 2016

  DCNS has set its shipbuilding stall out on the first day of Euronaval on Monday detailing the scope of their current commitments and expectations for …

• Naval Warfare

  Euronaval 2016: NCM software frozen ahead of test firing

  12th October 2016

  Software development of the naval cruise missile (NCM), designed and manufactured by MBDA, has been stopped ahead of more complex practical tests in the coming …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  French Espadon programme completed

  13th September 2016

  France's DGA Espadon programme, carried out by ECA Group, Thales and DCNS, has been successfully completed, ECA announced on 8 September. The programme achieved a number …

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• 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 ...

• 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 ...

• 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 ...

• 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 ...

• Military helicopters - transport/heavy lift

  NH90 (Special Forces) [France]

  Background In French service, advanced H225M Caracals with aerial refuelling capabilities are used by SOF units of the French Air Force (FAF) and French Army. ...

• 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 ...

• 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 ...

• 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, ...

• 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 ...

• Maritime patrol

  MAWS/PATMAR [France]

  Background In 2017, Germany and France announced that they would be working towards developing an MPA to replace their current fleets in service. Hoev The ...

• Transport/tanker aircraft

  A330 MRTT (1-12) [France]

  Background 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 ...

• 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 ...

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 ...

• 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 ...