Thales, a global leader in advanced technologies, and Turgis Gaillard, a French specialist in aerospace and defense systems, have announced a significant partnership. The collaboration aims to develop a completely French airborne surveillance solution, leveraging Turgis Gaillard’s AAROK Medium Altitude, Long Endurance (MALE) drone and Thales’s AirMaster S radar.
According to a press release from Thales, this strategic alliance will offer a sovereign MALE drone solution for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) missions. The initiative is a key step towards enhancing France’s strategic autonomy in defense, particularly for operations in high-intensity conflicts and maritime surveillance.
Philippe Duhamel, Executive Vice-President, Defence Mission Systems at Thales, expressed the company’s enthusiasm for providing a fully French solution. He noted that the AAROK drone, designed for demanding operations, will integrate Thales’s AI-enhanced radar system, ensuring high performance.
The AAROK drone, which was first unveiled at the 2023 Paris Air Show, is described as the first MALE drone developed entirely in France. Its selection of the Thales AirMaster S radar is based on the radar’s exceptional operational capabilities, which have been proven in various combat conditions, including on the French Navy’s Atlantique 2 maritime patrol aircraft.
Fanny Turgis and Patrick Gaillard, Chairwoman and Chief Executive Officer of Turgis Gaillard, respectively, also affirmed their shared objective with Thales. They stated that the partnership reflects a commitment to delivering a 100% French MALE drone solution capable of meeting the stringent requirements of high-intensity conflicts, and that the integration of the AirMaster S radar significantly expands the AAROK drone’s operational capabilities. This collaboration also paves the way for the future integration of other Thales sensors onto the AAROK platform.
