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France successfully tests new kamikaze drone, Ukraine delivery imminent

The drone, reportedly based on the civilian Delair Tech UX11, is set to be delivered to Ukraine and French forces in the coming weeks.
byYuri Zoria
17/10/2024
2 minute read
Screenshots from the footage of testing a French kamikaze drone. Source: X/Sébastien Lecornu
France successfully tests new kamikaze drone, Ukraine delivery imminent

France has successfully conducted the first tests of a domestically produced kamikaze drone, which is set to be transferred to Ukraine in the coming weeks, according to French Defense Minister Sébastien Lecornu.

France has been among Ukraine’s strongest supporters in the EU, supplying weapons such as Caesar self-propelled guns and Scalp cruise missiles. Drone warfare innovations have become a defining feature of the ongoing Russo-Ukrainian war. Unmanned vehicles of various sizes, operating in the air, on land, and at sea, play a central role, with technology advancing rapidly. Amid the ongoing Ukraine-Russia drone arms race, multiple countries have begun developing new drone systems to enhance their military capabilities.

Lecornu announced the development on X, stating,

“Success of the tests of the first French teleoperated ammunition – also called kamikaze drone. Sovereignty reconquest on this key segment for our armies, in less than two years. Deliveries to Ukraine and our forces in the coming weeks.”

Militarnyi notes that the drone was developed as part of the Colibri program, launched in May 2022 by the French Defense Innovation Agency (AID) and the Defense Procurement Agency (DGA). The program aimed to rapidly develop low-cost, teleoperated kamikaze drones that would be easy to use and capable of hitting light targets at a distance of up to 5 kilometers.

According to Militarnyi, the tested drone was developed by NEXTER and is based on the civilian Delair Tech UX11. The prototype has a wingspan of 1.1 meters and weighs up to 1.5 kilograms. The civilian version of the Delair UX11 can fly at an altitude of about 2 kilometers, and reaches a maximum speed of 60 km/h with a flight time of 59 minutes. The military version may have a reduced flight time due to the inclusion of a warhead.

The Delair UX11 drone. Photo: Delair, via Militarnyi

Minister Lecornu has not yet shared information on whether other kamikaze drones by MBDA and NOVADEM, which also participated in the program, will be tested.

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