PARIS — June 03, 2026 : French aerospace manufacturer Aura Aero will unveil the definitive version of its ENBATA Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) drone at the Eurosatory 2026 defense and security exhibition in Paris, scheduled from June 15 to June 19. The presentation marks a step in France’s sovereign defense capabilities and strengthens Europe’s independent unmanned aerial systems sector.
Developed by Aura Aero’s defense division, Aura M, the ENBATA is designed as a fully sovereign and ITAR-free platform, meaning it is built without components subject to United States export restrictions. The approach is intended to provide greater operational independence and export flexibility for European and allied operators.
Aura Aero positions ENBATA as a European alternative in the MALE drone segment, where many countries continue to rely on imported systems such as the MQ-9 Reaper. The aircraft is designed for both military and civilian use with an open architecture system to support future upgrades and evolving operational requirements.
Assembly of the prototype has already begun at Aura Aero’s Toulouse-Francazal Airport facility in France, with the aircraft expected to be displayed at Eurosatory ahead of its planned maiden flight later in 2026.
According to confirmed specifications, ENBATA will have a maximum takeoff weight of approximately 2,000 kilograms, payload capacity approaching one metric ton, and endurance of up to 55 hours. The drone will also support up to 340 kilograms of payload under each wing and use a hybrid-electric propulsion system.
The aircraft is being developed as a dual civil-military platform and is expected to pursue European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) certification. Mission roles include intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR), maritime and land surveillance, communications relay, electronic warfare, and anti-drone operations. Civilian applications may include search-and-rescue missions, forest fire monitoring, and aerial surveillance.
Aura Aero said ENBATA could also support collaborative mission testing linked to future Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) concepts beginning in 2027, allowing operations alongside piloted aircraft or coordination with multiple unmanned systems.
The program is being developed with support from France’s Ministry of Armed Forces and the Directorate General of Armaments (DGA), alongside industrial partners Thales, Safran, and Aresia.
Aura Aero Chief Executive Officer Jérémy Caussade said the program was created to address a capability gap in Europe by providing a sovereign MALE drone developed outside large multinational frameworks. The defense effort is overseen by Aura M Chief Defense Officer General Stéphane Mille, former Chief of Staff of the French Air and Space Force.
To support future production, Aura Aero recently completed a €50 million Series B funding round and secured permits for a new 538,000-square-foot manufacturing and assembly facility at Toulouse-Francazal Airport. The site will support serial production of ENBATA as the platform moves toward operational service following its planned first flight later this year.
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