INDIA JOINS EURODRONE PROGRAM AS OBSERVER NATION

GS2 – INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS 

Overview

India has officially joined the Eurodrone program as an observer nation, becoming the second Asia-Pacific country, after Japan, to achieve this status.

About the Eurodrone Program

• Participants: France, Germany, Italy, and Spain, managed by OCCAR (Organisation for Joint Armament Cooperation).
• Leadership: Led by Airbus Defence and Space (Germany) with partners such as Leonardo (Italy), Dassault Aviation (France), and Airbus (Spain).
• Purpose: A Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) remotely piloted aircraft system designed for long-endurance missions like surveillance, reconnaissance, maritime security, and early warning.

 

Key Features

• Twin-engine design for harsh weather operations.
• First RPAS certified for shared airspace operations.
• Ensures secure and exclusive data management via controlled connectivity.
• Payload capacity: 2.3 tonnes; endurance: up to 40 hours.

Timeline

• Launch: 2022 under “European Programme for European Sovereignty.”
• Preliminary Design Review: Completed in 2024.
• First Flight: Expected in 2026, with deliveries starting in 2028.
• Full Deployment: Anticipated by 2030.

India’s Observer Nation Status

• Privileges: Access to technical data and the option to place orders for Eurodrones.
• Limitations: Excluded from design, development, and workshare decisions.
• Application Timeline: Submitted in August 2024, approved after Japan’s inclusion in November 2023.

Strategic Significance

• Enhances European defence independence by reducing reliance on US (Reaper) and Israeli (Heron) drones.
• Aligns with India’s strategy for global defence collaboration, following the India-Germany defence agreement (October 2024).

Challenges in Indian Defence Modernisation

• Indian Air Force operates only 31 squadrons versus the sanctioned 42.
• Delays in Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) development and fighter jet production.
• Growing threats from China’s J-20 stealth fighter and Pakistan’s likely acquisition of the J-35A.

Future Defence Prospects

• Fifth-Generation Aircraft: India considers the US F-35 Lightning II, Russian Su-57, and indigenous AMCA.
  • Geopolitical factors, like operating Russia’s S-400 system, may complicate F-35 acquisition.
• Sixth-Generation Participation: India’s Eurodrone involvement could lead to participation in European programs like the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP) and Future Combat Air System (FCAS). These aim to integrate AI and advanced stealth technologies.

Collaborative Defence Development

India must carefully evaluate cost-sharing and risk factors for co-development while balancing current challenges and future opportunities in cutting-edge defence technologies.