Introduction —> Overview of the nEUROn programme
Advancements in augmented battalion structures in contemporary military doctrine require urgent interoperability and integration with advanced combat aid systems. A prime example of the intersectional application of modern technological advancements in military structure reform is highlighted in drone technology, particularly in the regional developments of the European drone industry, in how integration will be implemented in line with autonomous European doctrine, and EU developments of expeditionary deployment. The core of this kind of European multilateral technological development can be analysed astutely within the nEUROn drone programme, a joint-funded project undertaken by France, Greece, Italy, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland (French Senate, 2005).
Initially rooted in the French Dassault “AVE Grand Duc” in 1999, the project evolved into a multilateral European military-industrial project as it progressed. It exists as the leading European unmanned combat aerial vehicle suited for medium-to-high threat combat theatres. The core motivational drive to grant leveraged autonomy to European military technological advancements over their competitors is rooted in the multilateral European development mandate. This component of collaborative efforts from European actors bolsters further strategic autonomy through rapid regional advancements in vital assets for regional defence necessities. (Broadbent, 2013, 4). The industrial production breakdown of experimental drone programmes consists of the joint involvement of Dassault (France) at 50%, Leonardo-Finmeccanica (Italy) at 25%, and Saab (Sweden) at 25%. Further industrial European actors include Airbus Defence and Space (Spain), Hellenic Aerospace Industry (Greece), and RUAG (Switzerland) (Dassault Aviation, 2021).
Industrial Security
Industrial security, secrecy, and autonomous technological leverage over global competitor counterparts are paramount to the programme development cycle. They aim to ensure that, through a solely European-focused collaborative effort of design and technological development, overlapping progress will be made on future EU military interoperability and regional strategic autonomy. Developing independent experience in advanced drone technological development and overlapped core military industries is another benefit to European research collaboration (Broadbent, 2013, 5).
To ensure that this goal is consistently achieved, funding is solely derived from participating European industrial actors, with partial state-allocated funding bolstering participants’ national industry support of the project. The cost of the nEUROn programme structure is valued at €405 million and is allowed for a three-year design and definition phase. This was followed by the development, production, and design phase. Flight programming began in 2011 with the first test flight, followed by a two-year test flight programme consisting of 100 sorties, with weapons system testing in 2012. Initial funding included €202.5 million from the Direction Générale de l’Armement (France), €66 million from the Swedish Ministry of Defence, with the majority of funding derived from Saab AB (Sweden). Spanish funding consisted of €35.5 million spread over five years. This has now been altered to include new industrial participants to the project and is divided among the Direction Générale de l’Armement (France) at 38%, Leonardo-Finmeccanica (Italy) at 22.2%, Saab (Sweden) at 18.1%, Airbus Defence and Space (Spain) at 8.05%, and RUAG (Switzerland) at 1 % (Van Der Pijl, 2021, 66).
Technological Integration
The UAV systems will encompass a wide range of engagement abilities in integration with land force operations. This is partially due to the system’s design philosophy, which is a more formidable size compared to other UAV systems, such as the MQ-1 Predator. This allows for the system to act as a multifunctional fighter with larger payload and range capabilities. The sizing parameters reflect its core use as a multipurpose drone, like the contemporary European fighter aircraft, such as the Mirage 2000. With a similar weight and size at 9.3 metres long by 12.5 metres wide and weighing 5 tonnes, this size allows the system to achieve this integrated purpose in the field (Air Marshal Anil Chopra, 2021, 98). Integration becomes more seamless due to the cost-effective nature of drone production at €25 million compared to contemporary fighter costs, such as the Dassault Rafale, which is priced at €99 million (Yenne, 2017, 90). This price range will allow more units to be integrated into fieldwork campaigns within land force operations than conventional aircraft, granting increased air support, range of cover, and tactical overwatch with less resource-intensive output. Its RRTM Adour Mk951 hybrid engine allows for a total mission duration of three hours at 0.80 max match speed, and incorporates a very low observability radar and information retrieval system. This will offer land force units a robust and capable system providing real-time combat intelligence and aerial tactical support from its heavy payload capabilities. Capabilities are further strengthened through the intuitive master/slave system of controlling the drone through a ground control station operated by a soldier possessing endpoint control of engagements. Engagement protocol is primarily automated through a smart integrated weapon bay system, which acts as the system for nEUROn attack functionality, automatic detection, and recognition of relocatable ground targets (NATO, 2015, 2).
Conclusion
The feasibility of integrating this weaponry into European land force operations has significant merit and multifunctional uses, which can be seen in both defensive and offensive capabilities in a multiple range of combat theatres. A notable example of this application can be assessed within the ongoing multi-European Operation Barkhane. This multilateral insurgent operation covers a substantially large area of operational theatre across five nations of the Sahel, including Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, Mauritania, and Niger. This large operation of sparsely populated, arid, desertified terrain would benefit immensely from incorporating an intelligent drone system with integrated IR surveillance and a wide range of aerial cover. Doing so would provide land forces operating in the region with ample protection from contact threats from insurgents engaging conventional forces with asymmetrical guerrilla tactics. It would also allow for a greater field of vision with real-time updates of enemy combatant movements, which would allow for a reduced human presence of patrol within the theatre, therefore reducing the potential for inflicted casualties of European troops. Seamless integration of this intelligent UAV system will provide European forces with an essential component for a modern and superior land force capable of effectively achieving military aims across a wide array of theatres.
Written by Luke Hally
Bibliography
French Senate. (2005) The project nEUROn, launched by France, is joined by its main European partners. Paris. French Senate
Broadbent, M. (2013) NEUROn Becomes Europe’s First Stealth Aircraft to Fly. London, Air International
Dassault Aviation. (2021) nEUROn, an efficient European cooperation scheme. Paris, Dassault Aviation
Van Der Pijl, K. (2021) The Militarization of the European Union. Cambridge, Cambridge Scholars Publishing
Chopra A. (2021) Indian Defence Review 36.1 (Jan-Mar 2021). New Delhi, Lancer Publishers
Yenne, B. (2017) Drone Strike!: UCAVs and Aerial Warfare in the 21st Century. Minnesota, Specialty Press Publishers
NATO, (2015) nEUROn UCAV: Development and Operational Assessment Campaign. Brussels, North Atlantic Treaty Organization Science and Technology Organization
