Thales and the aerospace and defense company Turgis Gaillard have joined forces to develop an all-French MALE (Medium Altitude Long Endurance) drone for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) missions.
The platform is based on the unmanned Aarok drone from Turgis Gaillard and will be equipped with the AirMaster S multi-purpose radar from Thales – an AESA radar (Active Electronically Scanned Array), which has already proven itself in live operation on the French maritime reconnaissance platform “Atlantique 2”.
On the way to strategic autonomy
With the Aarok, Turgis Gaillard presented a MALE drone developed entirely in France for the first time at the Paris Air Show in 2023. The system was specially designed for use in high-intensity combat environments and for maritime surveillance. By integrating the AirMaster S – which is equipped with AI functions – the Aaron is now set to receive significantly enhanced capabilities. Further sensors from Thales could follow in the future.
“With the Aaron, Thales is pleased to offer a 100 percent French solution for operations in high-intensity scenarios – equipped with our most advanced AI-based radar,” emphasizes Philippe Duhamel, Executive Vice President for Defense Missions at Thales.
Fanny Turgis and Patrick Gaillard, the top management of Turgis Gaillard, are also convinced: “This partnership underlines our common goal of further expanding France’s operational independence. The choice of the AirMaster S marks an important milestone on the way there.”
Battle-tested technology from France
The AirMaster S is characterized by its versatility and high target detection capability under difficult operating conditions. In addition to its use on the French “Atlantique 2”, the radar has also been used successfully by international partners in real operational scenarios. Its compact design and low mass make it particularly suitable for integration on unmanned platforms.
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