PESCO PROJECTS

EUROPEAN MEDIUM ALTITUDE LONG ENDURANCE REMOTELY PILOTED AIRCRAFT SYSTEMS – MALE RPAS (EURODRONE)

The project focuses on common elements in dedicated areas (e.g. operational testing & evaluation, logistics, training, exercises) of a newly developed, operationally relevant, affordable and sovereign European military capability for the next-generation of MALE RPAS, providing, by 2030, enhanced overall value compared to existing systems.

PROJECT DESCRIPTION

The PESCO Project European MALE RPAS is targeting a common use of European nations which are intending to operate MALE RPAS [Medium Altitude Long Endurance Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems] by the end of the 2020s decade. The Project starts after currently ongoing development and production of the aircraft systems and thus, its purpose is not to procure any systems but, it will help to understand all aspects of a common operation of this type of aircraft by combining the resources of all participants. The level of commonality depends on the future decisions on the [separate] development and procurement of MALE RPAS Systems of the participating nations and is still to be defined.

The PESCO Project European MALE RPAS is strongly linked to the OCCAR Project European MALE RPAS Stage 2 contract. As the OCCAR contract could not be signed before February 2022, the Kick-off of the PESCO Project European MALE RPAS had to be postponed after the official start of the Period of Performance beginning March 1st 2022. After the end of implementation phase of the OCCAR Project, PESCO European MALE RPAS Kick-off meeting was held March 15th 2023, progress will be reported on a yearly basis until detailed stage 2 contract in-service phase preparation activities start.

OBJECTIVES/PRODUCTS

The objective is to benefit from synergies of a common use in dedicated areas (e.g. operational testing & evaluation, logistics, training, exercises) of a newly developed, operationally relevant, affordable and sovereign European military capability for the next-generation of MALE RPAS, providing, at the horizon of the end of the 2020s decade, enhanced overall value compared to existing systems.