Daher has been selected by the French Defence Procurement Agency (DGA) as one of five industrial partners tasked with developing a Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) drone demonstrator. Announced at the Paris Air Show, the selection reinforces Daher’s industrial credibility and positions the company to manufacture drones at scale by the end of the decade.
The MALE drone project is at the core of France’s strategy to reinforce its technological sovereignty in defence. The DGA’s call for proposals invited approximately 10 European aerospace players to design large, remotely piloted drones capable of sustained operations, including in hostile or complex environments. The initiative is designed to complement existing drone capabilities and aims to deliver an operational sovereign drone solution by 2030.
Daher’s response to this strategic challenge leverages its longstanding aircraft manufacturing capabilities. Working in partnership with Thales, Daher is contributing to the development of a “Plug & Fly” drone based on a certified CS 23 light aviation platform. Thales is supplying key systems such as the ground station, ground-to-air command and control data link, and flight control components.
The proposed drone is fully compatible with French, ITAR-free defence electronics systems and designed for both piloted and unmanned missions. The versatility of the platform ensures certified, secure, and progressive integration into various types of airspace—including congested and high-risk zones.
What sets the platform apart is its modularity and rapid deployment potential. The aircraft can be swiftly converted into an autonomous or remotely piloted configuration without requiring a complete redesign of its architecture. According to the project’s specifications, Daher is capable of executing a remotely piloted flight demonstration in as little as six months—far ahead of the anticipated 18-month benchmark.
This drone development effort builds on Daher’s broader presence in the defence sector. Its TBM and Kodiak aircraft lines are widely used in liaison, coordination, and ISR roles. The company also supports French government fleets through maintenance, repair, and operational upgrades for various fixed-wing and rotary aircraft, including TBM 700/940, Écureuil helicopters, and DHC-6 Twin Otters.
Beyond aircraft, Daher is an established industrial partner in both civil and defence aerospace programmes, providing complex structural components and assemblies. Its capabilities extend to the design and production of secure containers and tactical shelters for critical mission applications, including communications and radar.
Daher also contributes to operational readiness through training, technical assistance, and maintenance of aeronautical systems. Its logistics operations support global defence activities, offering secure, end-to-end transport and inventory solutions. These include high-stakes deployments and repatriations managed for institutions like the United Nations and NATO.
The company’s inclusion in this drone programme demonstrates its growing relevance in France’s national defence ecosystem. With a significant share of its 2024 revenues—€300 million—stemming from sovereign and defence activities, Daher is reinforcing its role as a key player in Europe’s path toward sustainable and independent defence technologies.
