27/06/2025
Top DRDO team visits facility in Munich
By Anantha Krishnan M
Tarmak Media House
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Thiruvananthapuram, 27 June 2025: A high-level delegation from India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) visited the industrial hub of Europe’s premier Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) drone initiative -- -- in Munich earlier this month.
Military sources confirmed to Tarmak Media House (TMH) that the visit signals India’s growing interest in advanced unmanned aerial systems and future strategic collaborations with European partners.
Led by Germany, Eurodrone is a multinational programme involving Germany, France, Italy and Spain. It is managed by the Organisation for Joint Armament Cooperation (OCCAR), with Airbus Defence and Space (Germany) as the industrial prime. Key subcontractors include Leonardo (Italy), Dassault Aviation (France) and Airbus Defence and Space (Spain). The project is considered vital to Europe’s quest for sovereign capability in the MALE RPAS segment.
Multi-mission capabilities
Eurodrone boasts a maximum mission payload of 2.3 tonnes (excluding fuel) and up to 40 hours of endurance -- placing it among the most capable MALE-class RPAS globally. Its underwing payload options allow for flexible mission configurations, ranging from Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition and Reconnaissance (ISTAR) to strike roles. Future variants are planned to support Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW), Command, Control and Communications (C³) and Airborne Early Warning (AEW) operations.
Designed for safe integration into civil airspace, the Eurodrone is being certified in line with NATO STANAG 4671 Edition 3 and civil aviation standards. Its modular architecture separates flight and mission systems, enabling mission upgrades without affecting the aircraft’s baseline airworthiness -- ensuring future adaptability.
The Indian delegation
The Indian delegation was led by Distinguished Scientist Y Dilip, Director of Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE), accompanied by Dr S Rajagopal (Scientist G, ADE) and Dr R Rajesh (Scientist G, CABS). Also present were the Defence Attaché in Berlin and the Technical Counsellor of DRDO in Paris.
The team received detailed briefings from OCCAR and Airbus GmbH on the Eurodrone programme’s operational design, system capabilities, and development progress. A Digital Mock-up (DMU) session illustrated the drone’s versatility across mission profiles. Indian officials expressed strong interest in the open and modular architecture, particularly in its ability to accommodate indigenous technologies.
Observer status & road ahead
Sources confirmed that India was granted Observer Status for the Eurodrone programme earlier this year, following its application in August 2024. This marked India’s first official meeting in that capacity. As an observer, India’s engagement remains non-committal and non-contractual (NC-NC) for a two-year period, after which a transition to participating nation status may be explored, depending on mutual interest and strategic alignment.
The Eurodrone programme, led by Airbus GmbH with support from over 50 European aerospace and electronics companies, is currently in its Detailed Design Review (DDR) phase.
Copyright © TMH
Eurodrone image: airbus.com
Team image: OCCAR
DRDO
