French company EOS Technologie has delivered its first Rodeur 330 strike drones to Ukraine, AFP reports. A limited number of units have already arrived. The loitering munitions can fly up to 500 kilometers, remain airborne for five hours, and strike targets in fully autonomous mode.
The delivery highlights the rapid growth of France’s military drone sector, accelerated by lessons from the war in Ukraine.
EOS Technologie CEO Jean-Marc Zuliani told AFP that Ukrainian forces have gained unparalleled operational experience. According to him, Ukraine currently needs advanced technology more than sheer quantities of equipment, while offering Western manufacturers a real-world testing ground for new systems.
Zuliani described the Rodeur as a potential “shield” for Europe and a “sword” for Ukraine, capable of deep strikes against airbases, defense infrastructure, refineries, and fuel depots inside Russian territory.
The Rodeur 330 combines reconnaissance and strike functions in a single platform. It carries a 4-kilogram payload and uses metric-precision guidance to autonomously hit targets. Two operators can assemble the drone in three minutes and launch it via catapult.
With a 3.3-meter wingspan and a maximum takeoff weight of 25 kilograms, the drone cruises at 120 km/h, can reach altitudes of 5,000 meters, and loiter for up to five hours. Operators require one week of training, with an additional week for maintenance.
EOS Technologie has also partnered with an unnamed major automotive manufacturer, which Zuliani says could produce anywhere from 10,000 to one million drones by 2030. Meanwhile, Ukraine requires roughly 20,000 drones per month, according to Hadrien Canter of French startup Alta Ares, which develops software to improve drone interception rates.
Source: EUROMAIDAN