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• 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.
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.
About Thales
Thales (thalesgroup.com) is a global leader in advanced technologies for the Defence, Aerospace, and Cyber & Digital sectors. Its portfolio of innovative products and services helps address several major challenges: sovereignty, security, sustainability and inclusion.
The Group allocates €4.5 billion per year in Research & Development in key areas, particularly for critical environments, such as Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity, Quantum and Cloud technologies. Thales has more than 85,000 employees in 65 countries. In 2025, the Group generated sales of €22.1 billion.
Recent images of Thales and its Defense, Aerospace and Cyber & Digital activities can be found on the Thales Media Library. For any specific requests, please contact the Media Relations team.
About Aura Aero
Pioneer of decarbonized aviation, AURA AERO (aura-aero.com) is committed to serving humanity by designing and manufacturing aircraft that accelerate the decarbonization of air transport. By combining the excellence of the aeronautical industry with cutting-edge digital technologies, AURA AERO is developing new generation aircraft with unparalleled efficiency: INTEGRAL, the two-seat aircraft available in four versions (R for aerobatics and leisure, S for training, each also offered in electric version), and ERA, the 19-seat hybrid-electric regional aircraft.
Created in 2018 and based at Toulouse-Francazal airport, in France, the manufacturer employs nearly 250 people. Having obtained design and production approvals, the company confirms its status as a fully-fledged aircraft manufacturer.
AURA AERO benefits from the support of the Occitanie Region, the BPI and the investment fund Innovacom. Winner of the European EIC Accelerator fund, the Innovation Fund as well as the France Relance and France 2030 programs, AURA AERO sits on the executive committee of AZEA (Alliance for Zero Emission Aviation) and is one of the 16 founding companies of the European working group Future Mobility Taskforce. AURA AERO is one of the few companies to have received the STEP Seal from the European Union, which highlights projects developing cutting-edge technologies in the energy, industrial and digital sectors for space-related applications. AURA AERO is proud to be the first aeronautical company to have been selected, as part of its HERMES project, by the European Innovation Fund to receive a grant from carbon credits, as defined by the "EU Emissions Trading System" (EU ETS). - One of the largest financing programs in the world for the deployment of innovative low-carbon technologies.
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