Thales and Aura Aero partner on intel, recon capabilities

Thales and Aura Aero announced a joint venture that aims to develop a MALE (Medium Altitude Long Endurance) drone solution capable of fulfilling Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) missions in support of the French Armed Forces. Thales’ AirMaster C airborne surveillance radar and electronic warfare solutions have been selected to equip the Enbata drone developed by AURA AERO. AURA AERO designs, manufactures and industrialises next-generation aerospace platforms, developed to address the mobility, security, and sovereignty challenges of tomorrow’s world. AURA M, its defence subsidiary, has officially announced the market launch of Enbata, its sovereign MALE drone. Designed as a multi-mission, cost effective platform, the aircraft combines fly-by-wire flight controls with an open architecture capable of accommodating a wide range of payloads. The AirMaster C airborne radar from Thales, a global leader in high technology and trusted partner of armed forces, has been selected for its performance and compact size, making it ideally suited for the Enbata drone. Developed in France, this next-generation radar features a highly compact AESA (Active Electronically Scanned Array) architecture combined with onboard artificial intelligence capabilities. This advanced technology enables precise and autonomous target classification, facilitating the identification of objects of interest while reducing the volume of data transmitted to ground stations. The combination of AirMaster C radar sensors and Thales’ electronic warfare solutions integrated into Enbata will provide the drone with exceptional adaptability in the most complex operational environments and engagement scenarios. This partnership will enable the MALE drone to perform a broad range of military operations, from armed reconnaissance and long-range intelligence gathering to maritime surveillance, electronic warfare, and counter-drone operations. The first flight of the Enbata drone is scheduled for 2026, marking a key milestone ahead of its initial integration with Thales equipment during the 2026-2027 timeframe. Renault Group and Thales to develop sovereign drone industry in France Thales and Renault Group (RG) announced the signing of a partnership agreement to jointly develop and industrialise the large-scale production of Thales’ TOUTATIS loitering munition. This strategic partnership combines Thales’ cutting-edge defence expertise with Renault Group’s industrial engineering and manufacturing capabilities to establish a sovereign, agile and competitive drone industry in France, fully aligned with the requirements of the wartime economy. Through this collaboration, production of loitering munition could begin as early as 2027, with a manufacturing capacity of 1,000 units per month from the first year, marking a significant ramp-up in France’s industrial capacities in this strategic field. This partnership will help secure a resilient and sovereign supply of munitions for France, while addressing the evolving operational and strategic requirements of the armed forces and strengthening the competitiveness of the national defence industry. Designed for high-intensity conflicts, the TOUTATIS short-range loitering munition provides armed forces with a new operational advantage. Highly versatile, it can be deployed by dismounted soldiers and launched from a variety of platforms (combat vehicles, aircraft and naval platforms). Resistant to electromagnetic jamming and equipped with a mission-configurable warhead, TOUTATIS is capable of neutralising targets such as combat vehicles while ensuring human operators remain in the decision-making loop. Able to operate as part of a drone swarm, TOUTATIS is a scalable system designed to adapt to evolving operational requirements. For Editorial Inquiries Contact: Editor Kym Bergmann at [email protected] For Advertising Inquiries Contact: Group Sales Director Simon Hadfield at [email protected]