Thales and Aura Aero partner to enhance sovereign intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance capabilities

• This French drone project is supported by the French Ministry of the Armed Forces and the French Defence Procurement Agency (DGA).
• This collaboration aims to develop a MALE (Medium Altitude Long Endurance) drone solution capable of fulfilling Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) missions in support of the French Armed Forces.
• Thales’ AirMaster C airborne surveillance radar and electronic warfare solutions have been selected to equip the Enbata drone developed by AURA AERO.

This alliance represents a major step forward in strengthening sovereign ISR capabilities, in response to growing demand in France and around the world.

AURA AERO designs, manufactures and industrialises next-generation aerospace platforms, developed to address the mobility, security, and sovereignty challenges of tomorrow’s world. AURA M, its defence subsidiary, has officially announced the market launch of Enbata, its sovereign MALE drone. Designed as a multi-mission, cost effective platform, the aircraft combines fly-by-wire flight controls with an open architecture capable of accommodating a wide range of payloads.

The AirMaster C airborne radar from Thales, a global leader in high technology and trusted partner of armed forces, has been selected for its performance and compact size, making it ideally suited for the Enbata drone. Developed in France, this next-generation radar features a highly compact AESA (Active Electronically Scanned Array) architecture combined with onboard artificial intelligence capabilities. This advanced technology enables precise and autonomous target classification, facilitating the identification of objects of interest while reducing the volume of data transmitted to ground stations.

The combination of AirMaster C radar sensors and Thales’ electronic warfare solutions integrated into Enbata will provide the drone with exceptional adaptability in the most complex operational environments and engagement scenarios. This partnership will enable the MALE drone to perform a broad range of military operations, from armed reconnaissance and long-range intelligence gathering to maritime surveillance, electronic warfare, and counter-drone operations.

The first flight of the Enbata drone is scheduled for 2026, marking a key milestone ahead of its initial integration with Thales equipment during the 2026-2027 timeframe.

“Through this partnership, Thales once again demonstrates its ability to equip drones with next-generation combat-proven electronic warfare and radar solutions developed entirely in France, leveraging Artificial Intelligence to further enhance operational capabilities.” said Marie Gayrel, Vice-President in charge of Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance activities, Thales.

“By combining the AURA AERO’s Enbata MALE drone with Thales’ radar and electronic warfare capabilities, we are providing armed forces with a sovereign ISR solution that is high-performing and scalable. This combination of a next-generation aerial platform and advanced sensors acts as a true force multiplier, delivering enhanced operational effectiveness and meeting the demands of both current and future missions.” Stéphane Mille, Director of the Defense activity at AURA AERO.