The Eurodrone can take off. The global contract for the large European drone was signed in Manching, Bavaria, between Airbus and the Occar, the joint European agency for cooperation in arms matters. Airbus Defense and Space, prime contractor, has signed on behalf of the three main subcontractors: Airbus Defense and Space in Spain, Dassault Aviation in France and Leonardo in Italy. The news was anticipated in Rome by two representatives of Airbus, Wouter Van Wersch, president of the Europe Region and of sales in Europe and Serafino D’Angelantonio, head of Airbus for Italy.
Germany, France, Italy and Spain
“Occar has signed on behalf of the four nations involved in the launch of the program, namely Germany, France, Italy and Spain,” says a joint note from Airbus and other defense companies that formalizes the signing. “It is the largest European defense program in a few decades. It covers a gap. We welcome the decision of the four countries, ”said D’Angelantonio. The contract, according to the note, includes the development and production of 20 systems and 5 years of initial support in service. The director, Admiral Matteo Bisceglia, signed for Occar.
Value of 7.1 billion
The value of the entire contract, which includes the purchase of the aircraft, according to authoritative sources has a value of approximately 7.1 billion euros, but there are no figures in the press release. Each of the four countries contributes its share, in proportion to the drones purchased, and will also have an industrial return for production. Each system consists of three drones. Italy will purchase five systems, therefore 15 drones.
For Italy, the cost is estimated at less than 2 billion
“For Italy, the cost will be less than two billion, for the entire program, including the service phase,” Lucio Valerio Cioffi, general manager of Leonardo, explained to Il Sole 24 Ore on 15 July 2021. “The contract of Evil will have a big impact on Leonardo, we aspire to have 23% of the value, together with the national industry,” said the manager. The development phase is expected to cost around one billion.
Medium altitude and long range
Eurodrone, also known as Euro-Male, “is a remotely piloted, medium altitude and long range air system, with versatile and adaptable capabilities that make it the perfect platform for intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition and reconnaissance missions or for operations that involve national security. The open architecture, which is part of its future-proof design, will allow the systems capabilities to be increased and adapted according to the future needs of the armed forces involved, ”says Airbus.
–
