India joins Eurodrone Programme as newest OCCAR Observer State

As development of the Eurodrone continues to make steady progress, interest in the Programme has continued to grow in Europe and around the world and Japan and India have gained observer status.

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OCCAR (Organisation Conjointe de Coopération en matière d’Armement / Organisation for Joint Armament Co-operation) is an international organisation whose core-business is the through life management of complex, co-operative defence equipment programmes, including the Airbus A400M and now the Eurodrone. Core members are Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the UK. The Government of Japan became an OCCAR Observer State in the MALE RPAS (Eurodrone) Programme in November 2023, and India is now doing the same, following an official request made on 27 August 2024.

The Eurodrone (also known as the OCCAR MALE (Medium Altitude Long Endurance) RPAS (Remotely Piloted Aircraft System)) is an unmanned system, designed to carry-out long endurance ISTAR (Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition and Reconnaissance) missions. It was developed by Airbus Defence & Space GmbH (prime contractor), Leonardo Spa, Dassault Aviation and Airbus Defence & Space SAU for Germany, France, Italy and Spain and other interested nations.

It bears an astonishingly close resemblance to the defunct Anglo-French Telemos UAV, which was in turn derived from the BAE Systems Mantis, albeit larger in size, with a T-tail and twin pusher props.

 

Acting on behalf of the OCCAR Board of Supervisors Joachim Sucker, the OCCAR-EA Director, delivered the Letter of Approval (LoA) signed by the  former Chairman of the OCCAR Board of Supervisors, Lt Gen Frédéric Goetynck, to the Ambassador of India to Germany, His Excellency, Mr Ajit Gupte, at the Indian Embassy in Berlin on 21 January 2025.

 

Mr Sucker congratulated the Government of India (GoI) on committing to commence this special relationship and expressed his hope that this first step will lead to a “long, fruitful and mutually beneficial co-operation.” He also expressed the Board of Supervisors’ appreciation of and positive support for India´s interest in OCCAR. He highlighted India’s willingness to explore opportunities to develop subjects of common interest and its recognition of the importance of co-operation between India and Europe.

 

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