Daher’s EyePulse MALE Drone Takes Flight

Daher has taken a significant step into the defence aerospace sector with the successful inaugural flight of its EyePulse Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) drone demonstration. Conducted at their Tarbes facility in southern France, this test flight marks a major achievement for Daher and underscores France's initiative to rapidly advance its drone capabilities.

The flight was conducted under a call from the French Defence Procurement Agency (Direction Générale de l’Armement – DGA) for innovative projects intended to speed up the development of unmanned aerial systems for both national and export markets. Daher, through EyePulse, has shown not only technical expertise but also the capability to provide a complex, defence-ready platform in an exceptionally short timeframe.

In an industry where new defence platforms usually take years to reach the prototype stage, the EyePulse project stands out for its exceptional speed. Daher, working closely with Thales, developed a fully operational MALE drone prototype in under six months. This project highlights the Group's industrial agility and the advanced nature of its dual-use technologies, suitable for both civilian and military applications.

Daher acted as both the architect and industrial lead for the EyePulse demonstrator. Instead of creating a new platform from the ground up, the company strategically utilised existing, certified civil aviation technologies. By leveraging the engineering expertise of its Fly’in technology centre in Tarbes, Daher incorporated new avionics, artificial intelligence capabilities and embedded systems into an established airframe. This strategy considerably shortened development timelines while ensuring adherence to strict safety and airworthiness standards.

According to the DGA, the delivery speed was not just impressive but crucial. Like many other countries, France is in a race to expand its unmanned fleet to address changing operational needs, such as border security, intelligence collection, and support for deployed forces. Daher’s swift advancement strongly suggests that France’s aerospace industry continues to be highly innovative under pressure.

The EyePulse demonstration was overseen by Alexandre Lahousse, Senior General Engineer of Armament – Exceptional Class (IGCEA) and DGA Deputy Director General. Once activated from the ground station, the drone transitioned into a fully autonomous flight phase, highlighting the platform's advanced capabilities.

Central to EyePulse's autonomy is Thales’ ScaleFlyt avionics suite. This modular system offers mission autonomy, real-time flight management, and a strong command-and-control datalink tailored for contested and regulated airspace. Thales also provided the ground control station interface and remote piloting system, facilitating seamless communication between the operator and the aircraft.

A crucial aspect of the project is its technology-neutral design approach. Thales' control system is compatible with various platforms and sensors, allowing EyePulse to function as a versatile testbed or operational asset that can incorporate future payloads, communication systems, and mission modules. This deliberate openness supports the DGA's goals for modularity and long-term adaptability.

Daher’s standing as a producer of durable, efficient aircraft, particularly the TBM and Kodiak turboprop series, played a crucial role in the creation of EyePulse. The Tarbes facilities, which are already set up for certified aircraft manufacturing and quick prototyping, provided the project with a distinct edge.

The Fly’in technology centre was crucially important. With expertise in AI, advanced materials, embedded systems, and flight testing, the centre facilitated the seamless integration of Thales technology into the EyePulse demonstrator. This merging of civil-sector knowledge with military-grade standards highlights a rising trend: contemporary defence programmes are increasingly dependent on the innovation cycles and production efficiencies found in civil aviation.

Daher’s ability to adapt a certified civil platform to military applications offers significant benefits. Such dual-use development reduces cost, speeds up certification, and ensures higher reliability compared to bespoke systems developed solely for defence. For the French armed forces, this approach promises faster deployment of operational drones at a fraction of the usual development risk.

One of EyePulse’s greatest strengths is its modular architecture. The aircraft is designed to adapt to new technologies, changing mission profiles and evolving operational doctrines. This makes it suitable for a range of future roles, including:

• Surveillance and reconnaissance

• Border and maritime patrol

• Electronic warfare missions

• Communications relay and networking operations

• Special operations support

The open-systems design also makes EyePulse a viable export product. Countries looking for sovereign MALE drone options, avoiding reliance on foreign supply chains, might consider the European-built EyePulse an appealing alternative to current American, Chinese, and Turkish systems.

The successful demonstration drew praise from both Daher and the DGA. Nicolas Chabbert, CEO of Daher Aircraft, highlighted the milestone’s strategic significance, “As a partner of the armed forces for more than 30 years, Daher is leveraging its innovation capabilities and dual-use industrial expertise to fully contribute to the transformation of France’s defence capabilities. We are preparing for series production of drones, and this flight confirms our ability to scale up.”

For the DGA, EyePulse serves as proof that France’s industrial base remains innovative, responsive, and capable of collaborative development at high speed. IGCEA Lahousse highlighted Daher's sovereign manufacturing capabilities and its effective integration of partner technologies—noting that these qualities will be essential for future defence programmes.

With EyePulse’s first flight now completed, Daher has demonstrated its readiness to move toward industrialisation. The company’s ability to rapidly integrate proven technologies and leverage a mature production ecosystem makes it a strong candidate for the upcoming generation of French defence drones.

The EyePulse programme is more than a proof of concept; it's a declaration that France intends to maintain control over its unmanned capabilities, from design to deployment. Backed by DGA support, Daher has positioned itself as a key player in Europe’s growing drone ecosystem.

For the defence aviation community and for nations seeking agile, sovereign, and scalable unmanned solutions, the EyePulse demonstration is a clear signal: the race toward next-generation drone capability is accelerating, and Daher is now firmly in the lead pack.