France has placed an order for additional MX-10 Damocles loitering munitions, exercising a contract option with KNDS France.
Paris’ Directorate General of Armaments (DGA) triggered the follow-on supply to expand manufacturing capacity and provide additional attack drones to the French Army and Navy.
Officials have not disclosed the cost, quantity, or associated timeline for the supply.
The effort builds on an initial contract awarded in July 2024 under the French Armed Forces’ short-range remotely operated munition initiative.
A total of 460 platforms are expected by July 2026, according to sources.
The first deliveries of the system began in December of the following year to the military’s Joint Munitions Service.
Quadcopter Loitering Munition
The MX-10 Damocles is the latest variant under KNDS’ proprietary Mataris unmanned aerial systems.
Its airframe, being assembled in partnership with Toulouse-based commercial drone maker Delair, was originally funded by the French government through a 2022 innovation program to equip tactical units with a modern precision-strike capability.
The quadcopter platform is designed to carry a 550-gram (19-ounce) explosive incendiary fragmentation warhead and relay live video to command up to the impact.
Troops can deploy the aircraft in under five minutes to locate and strike targets, including armored vehicles.
Built for contested airspace, the suicide drone incorporates jamming-resistant electronics and safety mechanisms to protect operators during launch.
The MX-10 uses electric propulsion that supports ranges up to 10 kilometers (6 miles) and a maximum flight endurance of 40 minutes.
