EXPO-SEDE_ET_2007_381405_EN.pdf — page 12

4.2 European UAV research and development 
 
Research and development (R&D) in EU member states is focused on medium-sized and larger 
UAVs and their sensors, as well as on UCAVs. A large part of the UAV R&D is financed by 
private industry and invariably uses existing technology (including civilian technology) for both 
the UAV aircraft and the sensors. The UAV programmes are generally aimed at producing 
operational systems. The more complex and expensive UCAV programmes are more dependent 
on financing by governments. All current UCAV programmes are technology demonstrator 
programmes aimed at testing instead of producing an operational UCAV. 
 
Research on tactical, mini, micro and super-micro UAVs is ongoing in many places inside EU 
countries. These range from government-owned research organisations to practical student and 
private ventures22. Cooperation between different companies or countries in the EU is not very 
strong. The experience of Eurodrone - a 1980 joint venture between Matra (France) and STN 
Atlas (Germany) to develop a small tactical UAV (called Brevel or KZO) - seems to sum it all 
up: brought as a typical French-German cooperative effort, it collapsed when the French pulled 
out of the project claiming the system was no longer useful, while the Germans went on and 
finally after 25 years introduced their KZO UAV in 2005. 
 
Several MALE UAV systems are being developed by European companies. Two of these are 
pure European efforts. BAE (UK) is developing the Herti-1A MALE based on a Polish powered 
glider airframe. Dassault (France), Alenia (Italy) and Saab (Sweden) agreed in June 2007 to 
develop a MALE, based on expertise gained from the Neuron project and probably absorbing 
Alenia’s own Sky-Y MALE technology demonstrator programme. Other European partners are 
planned and while it is a company initiative, funding from EU governments is sought23. It is 
interesting that the new Dassault/Alenia/Saab programme seems to contradict a 2004 Dassault-
EADS agreement whereby Dassault would take responsibility for UCAV and EADS for MALE 
development24. Other programmes are based on Israeli or US technology with different degrees 
of European input: the French Eagle and the British Watchkeeper programmes use Israeli UAV 
aircraft with locally-developed payloads; the RQ-1 is assembled in Italy and carries a US-
produced payload. 
 
Most recent are EU efforts to develop a HALE UAV. EADS initiated development of an 
Advanced UAV in 2005 with support from France and Germany, and in 2007 Spain joined the 
project. A formal development contract, which includes Thales and Indra, is expected soon and 
the project is open for additional industrial or country participants25. 
 
 
 
 
 
                                                 
22 E.g. in 2005 students at the University of Delft (Netherlands) developed a 17 gr super micro UAV called Delfly. 
URL http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2005/09/13/201479/dutch-micro-uav-flaps-its-way-to-successful-first-
flight.html. Such micro and mini UAV are not much different from remote-controlled ‘toy’ aircraft commonly 
available in almost any toyshop for less than €50. 
23 Alenia is a subsidiary of Finmeccanica (Italy). Dassault press release, 19 June 2007, URL < http://www.dassault-
aviation.com/fr/aviation/presse/press-kits/2007/european-male-agreement.html>.  
24 US Department of Commerce, ‘France to lead UAV development in Europe’, STAT-USA 15 July 2004, URL 
http://strategis.ic.gc.ca/epic/site/imr-ri.nsf/en/gr125937e.html. 
25 ‘Spain signs up for EADS-led Advanced UAV study’, Flight International, 31 July 2007, URL 
http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2005/09/13/201479/dutch-micro-uav-flaps-its-way-to-successful-first-
flight.html. 
 
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