In an age of asymmetric conflicts, electronic warfare and the hyper-technologization of armies, drones are becoming essential tools for military operations. But beyond their technical performance, these machines raise a crucial strategic question: who designs them, who manufactures them, who controls their technology? For France, the answer is clear: guaranteeing military sovereignty requires complete control of the drone value chain, from the electronic brick to the operational drone.
In this context, the local production of UAVs, and even more so the manufacture of their key components, represents a fundamental challenge. Companies such as Drone Françaisembody this commitment to industrial reconquest in the service of national defense.
Drones: the new frontiers of military sovereignty
Historically, France has always sought to preserve its strategic autonomy, particularly in the aeronautical, space and nuclear fields. UAVs are no exception. These platforms, once of secondary importance, now occupy a central place in the doctrine of modern armies: surveillance, intelligence, ground support, logistics, combat...
But to use these capabilities without depending on foreign suppliers - particularly American or Chinese - we need to be able to design and manufacture UAVs in France. This is what technological sovereignty is all about.
In recent years, the French Ministry of the Armed Forces, via the DGA, has launched several programs to structure a credible national industry. The Pacte drones aériens de défense, signed in 2023, mobilizes more than 60 companies around the development of contact drones (weighing less than 150 kg), capable of supporting troops on the ground in very short timescales. The aim is to create local, responsive and robust production lines.
In this dynamic, companies capable of supplying sovereign electronic components, such as flight cardscards ESC (Electronic Speed Controllers) or voltage regulatorsare essential. This is precisely where Drone Français.
UAVs in defense: what role on the battlefield?
Today, drones are used at all levels of military operations, from strategic intelligence to tactical intervention:
- Surveillance and observation : MALE (Medium Altitude Long Endurance) drones can monitor areas several hundred kilometers away for dozens of hours at a time. In France, we're thinking of the American Reaper, but also
- the AAROK project, a 100% French drone developed by Turgis & Gaillard to offer a sovereign alternative.
- Reconnaissance and tactical support : light UAVs, such as FPVs (First Person View), are now deployed in the field to explore a building, inspect an enemy line or designate a target. Their low cost, maneuverability and ability to fly at very low altitudes make them formidably effective.
- Neutralization and combat : kamikaze or armed drones, inspired by models such as the American Switchblade or the Russian Lancet, are redefining modern artillery. In Ukraine, this type of device has become one of the main causes of material losses.
In all these cases, the drone's reliability, responsiveness and safety depend directly on the quality of the on-board electronic components. And this is where Made in France becomes a strategic argument.
Technological sovereignty: a major strategic challenge
Recent crises - Covid, geopolitical tensions, the war in Ukraine - have shown just how fragile supply chains can be. When a state depends on foreign suppliers for its military equipment, it exposes itself to :
- Risks of espionage or sabotage, particularly if systems embed proprietary software or vulnerable components;
- Supply delays in the event of diplomatic tensions or logistical disruptions;
- A loss of control over technological evolution, as it becomes impossible to adapt or modify systems without the supplier's agreement.
That's why it's essential for France to control the technological building blocks of its UAVs: processors, on-board software, firmware, interfaces, engines, etc. Sovereignty requires the ability to design these components in-house, or at least to produce them locally with trusted partners. Sovereignty requires the ability to design these components in-house, or at least to produce them locally with trusted partners.
French Drone: a concrete response to sovereignty issues
Created by engineers with a passion for embedded technologies, Drone Français has set itself a clear mission: to supply critical UAV components designed, developed and manufactured in France. The company does not offer complete UAVs, but rather essential technological building blocks designed to equip existing platforms or build customized solutions.
Products designed for demanding military applications
Its flagship products include:
- The Abell flight card Abell: a compact, powerful board developed entirely in-house. Compatible with ArduPilot and Betaflight, it is equally suited to civilian projects and defense platforms. It offers total control over the firmware and software stack.
- Centurion ESCs (35A and 65A): 4-in-1 motor controllers capable of withstanding high currents (up to 75A peak), with a compact, robust and shielded housing, perfectly suited to demanding environments.
- Modular voltage regulatorsto supply 3, 5 or 12 V from a single module, with full compatibility with industrial and military standards.
These components are designed for integration in FPV drones, observation drones, or hybrid platforms requiring lightness, power and reliability.
100% French manufacturing
All Drone Français products are made in France, with a controlled production chain. The choice of local sourcing means :
- Complete traceability of components;
- Local, responsive and flexible technical support;
- Resilience in the face of international logistics crises.
The company works with partners from the defense and electronics industries, enabling it to offer solutions that meet the most demanding standards.
A fast-growing industry
Drone Français is not alone in this adventure. The French ecosystem is rapidly taking shape around three axes:
- Major manufacturers (Thales, Safran, Turgis & Gaillard, etc.) are developing complete UAVs for strategic applications.
- Innovative SMEs like Drone Français design the technological building blocks that guarantee autonomy and performance.
- Public authorities (DGA, Ministry of the Armed Forces) coordinate and finance innovation, through calls for projects or public orders.
TheADIF (Alliance pour le développement des filières drones - Alliance for the development of the drone industry) already includes over 30 companies, and the industry's potential now exceeds 1,000 direct jobs and sales of 100 million euros.
Drones are no longer just flying gadgets. They have become military instruments in their own right, capable of changing the course of a conflict. For France, guaranteeing sovereignty in this field is not just a matter of producing drones, but of mastering each and every technological brick that makes them up.
Drone Français embodies this ambition. By manufacturing critical components such as the Abell flight card and Centurion ESCs in France, the company actively contributes to France's strategic independence. It provides manufacturers, integrators and armed forces with reliable, powerful, secure... and above all, sovereign solutions.
The future of military operations will also be played out in lines of code, microcontrollers and printed circuit boards. By regaining control of these elements, France is preparing the future of its defense.