Germany has accepted India’s application as an observer for the Eurodrone program.
This will provide New Delhi with an opportunity to closely monitor the four-nation drone project comprising Germany, France, Italy, and Spain.
It would better inform India for future procurement of the platform or allow it to incorporate the lessons into its own domestic projects.
As an observer, India could gain access to briefings on the drone’s technical specifications and operational capabilities.
“…both sides will support enhanced industry level cooperation in the defense sector with a specific focus on technology collaboration, manufacturing/co-production and co-development of defense platforms and equipment,” a joint statement of the 7th India-Germany Intergovernmental Consultations read.
“Germany also welcomes India’s application for observer status in the Eurodrone Programme of OCCAR (Organisation for Joint Armament Cooperation).”
India’s Underwhelming Drone Development
New Delhi has lagged behind its peers in domestic drone development, forcing it to shell out billions in foreign purchases.
The decision to procure 31 MQ-9B drones from the US was preceded by the shelving of India’s ambitious TAPAS drone project in January.
The 13-year-old, $200 million medium-altitude, long-endurance project was shelved after it failed to meet the Indian military’s operational requirements.
According to experts, the drone’s engine was one of the key reasons behind the project’s grounding.
“A key technical deficiency of the TAPAS drone is its engine, which is a fundamental weakness plaguing other Indian aircraft development programmes such as the Tejas Light Combat Aircraft,” Senior Fellow at India-based Observer Research Foundation Kartik Bommakanti wrote in one of his essays.
“Compounding the engine deficiency issue is the TAPAS’ lack of several capabilities, which includes endurance that matches the MQ9-Bs, lack of a SATCOM-enabled capability, and a more limited altitude ceiling.”
Eurodrone
The Eurodrone is the main pillar of the Future Combat Air System, the European combat system of systems under development by Dassault Aviation, Airbus, and Indra Sistemas.
It is being designed as the first European unmanned aircraft for non-segregated airspace operations, capable of flying in both civilian and military airspace.
The program is a strategic initiative by the partner nations to develop a sovereign European drone comparable to the best in the world, helping them reduce their reliance on non-European systems.
Delivery From 2027
The first Eurodrone is expected to be delivered to Germany in 2027 and to France a year later.
It is designed to offer multi-mission capabilities such as intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition, and reconnaissance (ISTAR), and armed ISTAR.