The French company Turgis&Gaillard and the Ukrainian State Enterprise Antonov signed an agreement to produce the Aarok MALE combat drone, which became a real surprise at the Paris Air Show in June of this year in the Reaper category (5.5 tons).
How reports La Tribune, the Aarok MALE (Medium Altitude Long Range) drone performs observation and reconnaissance missions using highly efficient optical-electronic and electromagnetic sensors.
The Aarok’s large payload capability enables it to deliver countermeasures weapons and perform a number of important missions: close air support, strike coordination and reconnaissance, and suppression of enemy air defenses. Aarok is capable of becoming an integral part of anti-submarine and search and rescue operations.
An agreement on the production of a drone at Antonov’s facilities was signed during a visit to Ukraine by Sebastien Lecornu, the French Minister of the Armed Forces. During his visit to Kyiv, France and Ukraine signed about a dozen agreements on cooperation in the defense industry.
Turgis&Gaillard was founded in 2011 to develop Gerfaut, a system that integrates precision-guided munitions under the wings of the C-130 Hercules transport aircraft to perform strike missions without modifying the aircraft. Over twelve years, it has become a strategic partner of the French armed forces, as well as major aerospace companies. Today the company’s annual turnover is about EUR50 million.
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