French company EOS Technologie has delivered its first Rodeur 330 strike drones to Ukraine. AFP reports that a few units have been delivered. These loitering munitions can fly up to 500 km, stay airborne for five hours, and strike targets in fully automatic mode. The delivery marks a significant step in France's emerging military drone industry, which is rapidly expanding under pressure from the Ukrainian battlefield.
French drone reaches Ukrainian forces with 500 km range
Jean-Marc Zuliani, CEO of EOS Technologie, told AFP that Ukrainians have acquired experience unique in the world. He said they currently need technology more than devices. For Western manufacturers, Ukraine offers an opportunity to test machines in the field, Zuliani added.
The Rodeur could serve as a "shield" in Europe and a "sword" in Ukraine, Zuliani explained to AFP. Its capabilities allow deep strikes against airbases, defense infrastructure, refineries, and fuel depots inside Russian territory.
EOS Technologie's Rodeur 330 combines reconnaissance and strike capabilities in a single platform, according to the company's website. The drone carries a 4 kg payload and uses metric-precision guidance to hit targets autonomously. Two operators can assemble it in just three minutes and launch it from a catapult.
The Rodeur 330 features a 3.30-meter wingspan and weighs 25 kg at maximum takeoff weight, and can loiter up to five hours. It cruises at 120 km/h with a stall speed of 80 km/h and can reach altitudes up to 5,000 meters. Operators require just one week of training, with another week for maintenance training. The drone can fly programmed waypoints, execute racetrack loitering patterns, and guide itself automatically to targets.
Earlier, EOS Technologie signed a deal with an unnamed major automotive manufacturer. Zuliani said the partner can produce 10,000, 100,000, or even one million drones by 2030 to meet French needs. Automakers can deliver mass production in much shorter timeframes, he explained.
AFP notes that Ukraine needs approximately 20,000 drones per month, according to Hadrien Canter, co-founder of Alta Ares, a French startup born in Ukraine. The company develops software that increases drone interception rates from 30% to 65%. Alta Ares aims to reach 85%, matching the American Patriot missile system's performance.
