PARIS --- The fact that Europe lags behind in Tactical UAVs is an open secret. There are many – mostly bad and shortsighted– reasons for such an industrial fiasco and sovereignty quagmire.
Military forces on the continent were dragging their feet. Governments were slow to give the necessary impulse. Technically those programs are generally more complex and costly than sometimes anticipated. Industry players were most focused on undercutting competition than actually putting forward a viable solution.
Politicians were seemingly mesmerized by the – otherwise very real - ethical issues raised by Armed UAVs and their meaner corollary loitering munitions. Those concerns varied in importance depending on the country and the time period considered. But the lack of consensus led to a sort of no-man’s land in terms of tactical UAVs for decades.
The void was mostly filled by the General-Atomics MQ-9-Reaper – sometimes quickly like in Spain, Italy, Netherlands and the UK, sometimes reluctantly and painfully like in France or Belgium. It was also filled by the very mature Israeli industrial complex, like in Germany (Heron) and Switzerland (Hermes) for example.
After a lot of budgetary technical and industrial snags, the French Army is finally introducing the Safran Patroller into active service. Based on a German certified platform - Stemme S15 – it is supposed to become the workhorse UAV for French Forces. And after a lot of discussions it is now due to be armed at some point. In spite of its additional cost and delays, the Patroller is probably the most recent domestic tactical UAV to come online in Europe. Others may also arrive before the mammoth Eurodrone enters service in 2028 at the earliest.
The latter – with a 30-meter wingspan and an MTOW of 11 tonnes, with up to nearly 30 hours endurance - is clearly not tactical but it is a dimensioning endeavor for the European UAV industrial base
Are things about to change?
Ukraine war changed the way West Europe looks at war, and warfighting capabilities. The role of the Turkish-made Bayaktar TB2 highlighted the capabilities and operational potential of that kind of platforms on the battlefield, either armed or not.
The buyers have changed: Armed Services are more leaning forward the “80% solution”, with sufficient growth potential for future, incremental upgrades, instead of insisting on gold-plated, exquisitely-capable and expensive programs.
Governments have changed: they are now willing to fund actual replenishment of aerial capabilities, as part of their respective “war economy” plans. They also have understood that mass matters. Tactical UAVs usually carry little in terms of self-protection suites. Even at relatively high-altitude, they are therefore quite vulnerable. In case of conflict, there will be high levels of attrition. And they know they must plan for beyond the first month of hostilities. According to the RUSI, British military think-tank, Ukraine lost nearly 90% of its drones in the first months of the war against Russia….
In spite of bureaucracy and political skirmishes, Europe has indeed changed over the last few years in terms of defense policies and procurement. A number of common R&D and acquisition funded programs are actually running. Finally, ITAR restrictions have impacted several Reaper users, which justifies and clears the way for domestic procurement
Are we bound for a European version of the US “Big Safari” program? That remains to be seen however…
So, what’s the picture as the Paris Air show opens? And who will raise his head and come forward with credible solutions?
Import remains key: foreign suppliers won’t back down.
From Israel, Elbit is figuring out new variants of its Hermes 900 workhorse, while IAI must also have plans for its Heron and Heron-TP platforms. As far as the Hermes 900 is concerned, the aim is purely and simply to “to compete with the larger General Atomics MQ-9 Reaper”, a senior executive told Janes last month.
From the US, General Atomics is enlarging the mission scope and versatility of its MQ-9. The Mojave variant, with STOL capabilities, opens a lot of possibilities for customers, while the Sky Guardian/ Sea Guardian evolutions can fill maritime surveillance requirements of many nations, starting with the UK – where it will be known as the ”Protector”. The platform is well –known, certified to fly in unsegregated airspaces and battle-proven. So, it makes a lot of financial and military sense. Except that buying off-the-shelf – or a partially customized – platforms carries a lot of sovereignty issues, in terms of operational autonomy, information security, industrial self-sufficiency and upgrade potential.
Meanwhile, with a range of different platforms, Turkish manufacturers will try aggressively to build on the success of the 27-hour endurance Bayraktar TB2, which has just sold an unspecified quantity of units to Kuwwait, its 28th customer, in a $387 million deal. Turkish Aerospace has also the Anka and the bigger (MTOW around 3 tonnes) Aksungur.
Domestic solutions. What can European industry players offer?
The Spanish arm of Airbus Defense & Space shot first, by officially showcasing its SIRTAP project last February; an all-weather aircraft able to carry 150 kg of payloads (telecom links, target guidance systems, etc.), and up 20 hours autonomy. "We are currently in discussions with Spain to launch a broader program, designed to encourage cooperation. It will develop rapidly, taking three and a half years from the decision to launch the program to its entry into service", emphasizes the chief of Airbus Military Air Systems, Jean-Brice Dumont. Madrid has agreed to invest up to 500 million euros in this drone, and such a green light may trigger interest from other European countries.
Italy’s Leonardo is also incrementally upgrading its Falco platform, so as to mitigate certain range and payload shortcomings; while the much bigger Piaggio Hammerhead – based on the Avanti - seems dead.
In Sweden, Saab, in spite of having all the necessary in-house engineering firepower, does not seem ready to announce anything.
French defense ETI Turgis & Gaillard unexpectedly just announced the launch of the Arrok, an impressive 5.5 tonnes MTOW, a wingspan of 22 meters platform with a significant 1.5 tonne payload capacity. These figures put the Arrok into a Reaper-like class rather than a rival to the much bigger and longer-endurance Eurodrone. According to the French manufacturer – relatively new in the UAV field - it is due to fly by the end of this year. A pretty ambitious schedule, but who cares? Its Air Show times!
The French army is beginning to take delivery of its new Patroller drones, developed by Safran using a German motor-glider as the basic airframe. After the ill-fated Watchkeeper developed by Thales for the British Army, Patroller is one of the few large drones developed in Europe. (Safran photo)
It is whispered that Thales – maybe inspired by its bittersweet experience on the WK450 Watchkeeper in Great-Britain - might have a surprise in store… Others may come forward too. It’s the case of EOS Technology, a 20-strong French SME, with its 4th drone model unveiled in less than four years of existence to complete its product range from the top. This is the Endurance 1200, with a first version - all composite, all electric – unveiled during the Paris Air Show. Its first flight is scheduled for the coming months.
This is the case of the SDT-L programme (light tactical drone system) for the French armed forces, special forces and artillery, with the idea of a medium-endurance, medium-altitude model that can be deployed rapidly (i.e. with vertical and horizontal take-off and landing, and on basic runways).
Manufacturers are gearing up for battle, and several calls for tender in Europe could be major market drivers, between small disposable drones and larger, more expensive ones.
This is the case of the SDT-L programme (light tactical drone system) for the French armed forces, for Special Forces and artillery. The main idea is a medium-endurance, medium-altitude model that can be deployed rapidly (i.e. with vertical and horizontal take-off and landing, and on basic runways), to reduce the acquisition/strike loop between those who observe and those who strike. After all, there are still gaps to address, and customers will be all ears next week. The fight is on.
About the author: The Rochefort Committee is an informal group of defense professionals (civil servants, industry managers & private consultants) collectively expressing their views on issues related to the industrial, geopolitical, budgetary and technological challenges of major defense programs.
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