On November 30, Japan officially became an Observer in the European Medium Altitude Long Endurance Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (MALE RPAS) Programme, also known as Eurodrone, overseen by the Organisation for Joint Armament Co-operation (OCCAR). This move signifies Japan's growing interest in collaborating with European countries on crucial defense projects.
The Letter of Approval, signed by Vice-Admiral Stawitzki, Chairman of the OCCAR Board of Supervisors (BoS), was handed to Japan's Ambassador to Germany, Hidenao Yanagi, by Joachim Sucker, the OCCAR-EA Director. This milestone reflects Japan's willingness to engage with OCCAR and explore collaborative opportunities, emphasizing the significance of Japan-Europe cooperation in defense technologies and strategies.
The Eurodrone project, initiated in 2016, has achieved noteworthy milestones, including the successful conclusion of a Definition Study that established common requirements among Germany, France, Italy, and Spain. Subsequently, a System Requirement Review (SRR) and a System Preliminary Design Review (SPDR) were completed. Airbus Defence and Space GmbH leads the project as the Prime Contractor, with Airbus Defence and Space S.A.U, Leonardo, and Dassault as Major Sub-Contractors. The formalization of the contract took place on February 24, 2022, covering development, production, and initial in-service support for 20 systems.
Financial support for the MALE RPAS program was secured from the European Commission under the European Defence Industrial Development Programme (EDIDP) in 2021. OCCAR finalized a Grant Agreement with industrial partners after the Preliminary Design Review (PDR) and the Critical Design Review (CDR). Manufacturing of the first prototype is slated to start in 2024, with serial item deliveries targeted by the decade's end.
The European MALE RPAS is anticipated to play a crucial role in future operations, offering cutting-edge capabilities to European nations and forming a significant component of any Future Combat Air System (FCAS) to bolster collaborative combat capabilities.
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