France is confident that a deal on developing a joint European military drone project will be signed this year, after the conclusion of tough price negotiations with manufacturers, the defense ministry said Wednesday. “A few small details” still need to be worked out, but “we’re rather optimistic about this project,” an official in Defence Minister Florence Parly‘s office said.
The Eurodrone venture involving France, Germany, Italy, and Spain was announced in 2015 as a way for European nations to reduce their reliance on American-made Reaper drones.
Pan-European plane builder Airbus is the lead manufacturer for the planned medium-altitude, long-range vehicle, with France’s Dassault Aviation and Italy’s Leonardo also participating.
But disputes over the drone’s cost have held up the official launch of development and manufacturing...MORE
