Daher, Thales To Demonstrate Remotely Operated ISR Turboprop

LE BOURGET—French armament procurement agency DGA has selected Daher as one of five companies to fly a medium-altitude, long-endurance (MALE) demonstrator for uncrewed operations.

The agreement is Daher's first dip into weapon systems. Company shareholders used to stay away from such developments, although Daher does have defense activities. With geopolitical tensions and growing sovereignty concerns in Europe, Daher has changed its mind, and industry may see their name more often in the French Armed Forces Ministry's requests for proposals. The airframer's reliance on U.S. components so far may cause struggles, however, to offer products not subject to U.S. International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR).

DGA intends to collect ideas and has therefore set a loose framework for the demonstration, Daher Chairman and CEO Didier Kayat said during a press conference here at the Paris Air Show June 18. Eventually, the DGA's goal is to have a French manufacturer able to deliver high volumes of MALE uncrewed aircraft systems (UAS). Daher is counting on its TBM 900 and Kodiak single turboprops as platforms, and looking toward its established factories for the projected high production rates.

Thales has partnered with Daher and will provide the flight control system, a data link and a ground station. For the demonstration, a modified TBM or Kodiak will take off under pilot control, and will then be remotely operated for stacks, approach and landing. The aircraft will feature a camera designed for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) missions.

Public funding will account for 25% of the proof-of-concept phase. The future MALE UAS may fly over populated areas, and the ability to certify an aircraft and thus ensure a high level of safety is a criterion. While DGA requires the remotely piloted ISR flight demonstration to take place within 18 months, Daher's modified aircraft will fly by year's end, CTO Pascal Laguerre said. DGA also expects technical documentation and prioritizes cost, he added.

As DGA may target ITAR-free equipment for its future MALE UAS, Daher has started to review the systems it could use. The TBM's HomeSafe feature, which enables the aircraft to find the nearest airport and land automatically, relies on a Garmin system. Post-demonstration DGA specifications may lead Daher to replace systems such as the Garmin one, or find other ways to meet the ITAR-free requirement, Laguerre said.