France has decided to quit the Eurodrone program — a €7 billion European effort to build a homegrown surveillance and strike UAV — after years of cost overruns and design setbacks. The move marks another blow to Europe’s quest for defense autonomy.

Delays and Rising Costs

Launched in 2015 by Germany, France, Italy, and Spain under OCCAR, the Eurodrone (MALE RPAS) was meant to rival U.S. and Israeli systems. Its service entry has slipped from 2025 to 2030, and costs have topped €7 billion. Despite completing its Critical Design Review this year, France cited coordination failures, technical risk, and weak performance.

Analysts say Paris grew frustrated by the pace and cost compared with proven U.S. MQ-9 Reapers. Reports indicate the first prototype will not fly before 2028, with total delivery stretching to the next decade.

Industry and Political Fallout

France’s withdrawal leaves Germany, Italy, and Spain facing financial gaps and possible restructuring. Airbus Defence and Space leads the consortium with Dassault Aviation and Leonardo. Both face lost workshare and new cost pressures.

Defense observers warn this deepens rifts between Paris and Berlin, echoing earlier disputes over the Future Combat Air System (FCAS). One European official called the decision “a setback for Europe’s strategic autonomy agenda.”

Shift to National Drone Programs

France’s Directorate General for Armament (DGA) has already funded local alternatives, supporting firms such as Turgis & Gaillard and SE Aviation. Demonstrators like Aarok and Driade are cheaper, faster platforms for surveillance and strike missions.

The DGA signed contracts with five domestic companies in mid-2025 to develop MALE prototypes — part of a pivot toward sovereignty and agility over slow multilateral projects. While France remains listed in OCCAR documents, officials confirm an official withdrawal is imminent.

Europe’s Broader Drone Challenge

The exit comes as the EU accelerates a “Drone Defence Initiative” to counter Russian UAV threats, aiming for full operational capacity by 2027. Yet divisions persist over funding and sovereignty, with Paris and Berlin resisting deeper Brussels control.

European militaries, inspired by Ukraine’s drone warfare model, now favor rapid, modular designs over long-cycle mega-projects. France’s break from Eurodrone thus signals a bet on speed and autonomy rather than cumbersome collective ventures.