Is Europe Set To Offer India Customised Eurodrone Variant Post DRDO Personnel’s Germany Visit?
Eurodrone is a twin-turboprop MALE UAV. The project is led by Airbus, Dassault Aviation and Leonardo. Image courtesy: Wikimedia Commons
India’s interest in acquiring a customised variant of the Eurodrone, a next-generation medium-altitude, long-endurance (MALE) remotely piloted aircraft system, has taken a significant leap after the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) participated in a high-level observer briefing in Germany.
The interaction, facilitated by the Organisation for Joint Armament Cooperation (OCCAR), has opened the door for potential collaboration between India and key European defence firms.
What happened during India’s participation in the Eurodrone programme meeting?
On June 4–5, 2025, a delegation from the Government of India (GoI), composed of personnel from DRDO and the Embassy of India in Paris and Berlin, attended a Programme Working Group meeting at Hallbergmoos, near Munich. India participated as an Observer State in the OCCAR-managed Eurodrone programme, joining national representatives from France, Germany, Italy, and Spain.
During the two-day session, OCCAR, supported by Airbus GmbH, the programme’s prime contractor, briefed the Indian side on the Eurodrone’s operational characteristics and development status. DRDO officials were given access to the Digital Mock-up (DMU) and explored the drone’s architecture, with discussions touching on its modularity, sensor suite, and secure data handling systems.
What makes the Eurodrone attractive to India?
According to OCCAR, the Eurodrone “exceeds all current similar systems on the market” due to its “outstanding range and autonomy in heavy configuration,” alongside a “complete communication and data dissemination suite and state-of-the-art sensors.” Designed for ISTAR (Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition, and Reconnaissance) missions, the Eurodrone is capable of performing in diverse and challenging operational environments.
These capabilities align with India’s requirements for persistent surveillance along the Line of Actual Control and maritime reconnaissance across the Indo-Pacific. India’s indigenous MALE UAV programs—Tapas (Rustom-II) and Archer-NG—already emphasize similar features, and the Eurodrone’s open architecture has sparked interest in a hybrid platform that integrates Indian technologies with the Eurodrone airframe.
Is a customised Eurodrone for India on the table?
OCCAR and Airbus confirmed the system’s “compatibility with product modular architecture and growth potential,” opening the door for the inclusion of DRDO-developed technologies. A customised variant of the Eurodrone for India is being discussed, suggesting that this could include indigenous payloads, data links, and flight control components from India’s UAV ecosystem, according to a report by IDRW.
The Government of India delegation expressed its appreciation “for the information provided and the level of maturity of the programme,” indicating strong interest in the platform and its potential adaptation for Indian conditions.
The Eurodrone is being developed by Airbus GmbH and its partners Dassault Aviation, Leonardo, and Airbus Defence and Space Spain. Over 50 European firms contribute to the project, which is currently undergoing a detailed design review.
