The Eurodrone program has successfully completed its Preliminary Design Review (PDR) phase.
The review was led by the prime contractor Airbus Defence & Space, with participation from subcontractors Airbus Defence & Space Spain, Dassault Aviation, and Leonardo.
The Organisation for Joint Armament Cooperation (OCCAR), Europe’s defense procurement body, represented the partner nations: France, Germany, Italy, and Spain.
Throughout the review, the drone’s initial design saw consistent maturation.
The process involved “technical assessments and evaluations conducted, such as Wind Tunnel Testing to confirm the aerodynamic configuration of Eurodrone, the overall design to ensure demonstration of operational capability, and the validation of a fully representative Digital Twin,” Airbus said.
The program now moves into the detailed design stage, followed by the critical design review, which will conclude the architecture and system design phase.
Eurodrone, the first unmanned aerial system designed to operate in non-segregated airspace, features a modular design that allows for future upgrades.
It is expected to conduct missions including homeland operations, intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition, and reconnaissance (ISTAR), as well as armed ISTAR.
The drone’s maiden flight was anticipated for 2025, with initial deliveries projected for 2028.
