A European drone by 2025? The View from Spain on EUROMALE

The French Institute for International and Strategic Affairs (IRIS) is one of the main independent European Think Tanks on geopolitical and strategic issues.

IRIS, a public-interest association created in 1991, is a French think tank on geopolitical and strategic issues. It is the only international think tank to have been set up as a totally private initiative in an independent approach. IRIS activities can be divided into four fields: research, organisation of events and meetings, publishing and training.

The Armament Industry European Research Group (Ares Group) was created in 2016 by The French Institute for International and Strategic Affairs (IRIS), who coordinates the Group. The aim of the Ares Group, a high-level network of security and defence specialists across Europe, is to provide a forum to the European armament community, bringing together top defence industrial policy specialists, to encourage fresh strategic thinking in the field, develop innovative policy proposals and conduct studies for public and private actors.Abstract:

In May 2015, Italy, France and Germany agreed on the launch of a definition study for a weaponized MALE RPAS which would able to carry out both ISR missions, target acquisition and engagement. In February 2015, the Spanish Ministry of Defence approved the RPAS Master Plan. The Master Plan was designed to assess the RPAS state‐of‐the‐art and identify the needs of the Armed Forces at short (2016), medium (2020) and long (2026) term. According to the assessment, Spain had no RPAS system in the category of over 600 kg (Class III), and therefore advised immediate procurement of RPAS as a temporary bridging solution. It also recommended entry into a European research and development program that could deliver an advanced RPAS around 2017‐2020. Accordingly, Spain began to consider pros and cons of entering into a European co‐operative program.

• Primary Source

IRIS: ARES – Armament Industry European Research Group http://www.iris-france.org/ares/

ESO: Background Information: Italy, France, Germany sign European drone project http://www.europeansources.info/record/italy-france-germany-sign-european-drone-project/

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