Ukraine to receive 400 more drones from French company Delair
Delair UX11 drone. Photo: Delair video
French company Delair will supply more drones to the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Rubryka reports, citing the French publication L'Usine Nouvelle.
What's the problem?
Active combat operations in Ukraine, driven by Russian aggression, have proved that Ukrainian forces have a significant need not only for strike drones capable of hitting armored and hard-to-reach enemy targets but also for drones for artillery fire adjustment on the battlefield and reconnaissance data collection.
Such drones will never be in abundance, as they can be shot down by the enemy or malfunction or run out of battery during flight. Partner countries are joining the efforts of Ukrainian manufacturers and volunteers providing drones to the armed forces.
What's the solution?
The French company Delair will supply 400 of its reconnaissance drones to the Ukrainian military. The publication L'Usine Nouvelle claims that the contract for their production has already been concluded.
Reconnaissance drones will be of 2 types. One of them is called DT26. Its wingspan is 3.3 m, and it weighs 16 kg. The other drone is UX11. Its wingspan is 1.1 m, and it weighs only 1.5 kg.
Delair UX11 drone. Photo: Delair
How does it work?
"These are devices developed for the civilian sector, but now hundreds of them are being used on the Ukrainian battlefield. Within a year, we tripled the production rate of DT26," said the Delair CEO Michael de Lagarde.
DT26 Line drone. Photo: Delair
The drones are designed for border control, reconnaissance, and special operations forces. "Our drones are designed for continuous use in any weather, reliable, easily repairable, and equipped with quality sensors," the company said.
The publication added that UX11 drones are produced in hundreds per year. However, specific delivery dates for drones to Ukraine have not been reported.
In late February, the French government ordered 100 strike drones from Delair for Ukraine. They are expected to arrive in Ukraine in the summer of 2024.
What we know about the company Delair
Delair, one of the world's leading drone manufacturers, has offered fixed-wing UAVs worldwide since 2011. The program aims to rapidly create inexpensive French teleoperated strike drones that are easy to use and capable of hitting light targets within a range of five kilometers.
Delair DT46 droneThe project proposed by NEXTER and the French drone company Delair aims to adapt a fixed-wing drone.
This solution will allow the aircraft to cover greater distances and operate in open spaces. Presumably, the Delair Tech UX11 drone with a wingspan of 1.1 m and a weight of up to 1.5 kg will be modified for these purposes.
The Delair Drones range includes three drone models — DT46, DT26 Line, and UX11. The French army has chosen this company to create strike drones.
Ukrainian drone manufacturers can produce up to 150,000 products per month and plan to reach a total figure of 2 million drones by the end of 2024.
