France takes a new step in the development of its military capacities with the DT46 Hybrid, an observation drone designed by Delair in partnership with Ascendance. This model combines thermal and electric propulsion, a technology that makes it possible to significantly improve the autonomy and flexibility of the device. Currently in testing under the supervision of the Directorate General of Armament (DGA), it could be deployed soon for surveillance and recognition missions.
A drone designed to optimize performance and endurance
The hybrid DT46 is based on an existing platform, the DT46, an observation drone already used by the army artillerymen. This new device incorporates the Sterna hybrid-electric-electric propulsion system developed by ancestry, a technology that alternates between a heat engine and an electric motor. The main objective is to increase the autonomy and versatility of the drone.
In takeoff and vertical landing mode (VTOL), the hybrid DT46 displays a range of 5:30 am, two hours more than its entirely electric version. This improvement is made possible by a mechanism allowing to recharge the batteries in flight during the fast travel phases. This system offers double flexibility: the drone can cover large areas at high speed, then switch to electric propulsion to make discreet stationary flights during the observation phases. It can thus evolve at 100 km/h at an altitude of 1,000 meters and maintain a fixed position before leaving for another strategic point.
The Army already tests the hybrid DT46 to assess its performance and surveillance performance, particularly within the framework of the collaborative combat. Its integration into a network of interconnected drones, based on NATO Stanag 4609 standards, allows it to transmit strategic data in real time to ground units.
A project supported by defense and tested by the DGA
The development of the hybrid DT46 is part of a program supported by the DGA Missile Essays, which oversees the experiments and qualifications for new equipment for the armed forces. This project also benefits from the financing of the Defense Innovation Agency (AID), which aims to modernize French military technologies.
According to OPEX360, the DT46 hybrid tests will take place at the Center DGA tests of Biscarrosse missiles. The objective is to validate its operational capacities and to confirm the performance gains linked to hybrid motorization. If the tests are conclusive, several branches of the army could adopt this drone, notably for maritime surveillance, where it would gradually replace certain missions currently carried out by ships.
In addition to its interest in French terrestrial and maritime forces, the DT46 Hybrid illustrates the rise of French industrial actors specialized in the field of drones. Le Figaro recalls that Delair has already provided 150 DT26 and DT46 drones to Ukraine between 2023 and 2024, thus reinforcing its position as a key supplier of recognition equipment. In parallel, the company won the selection to develop 100 suicide bomber drones in cooperation with Nexter, as part of a larger program aimed at producing 2,000 units by 2025.
A strategic development for the drone industry in France
The hybrid DT46 is part of a broader dynamic of modernization of French military equipment, especially in the field of observation and surveillance drones. Its development allows Delair to strengthen its presence on the military market, while ASCEANCE continues the implementation of its Sterna system, designed to adapt to various aircraft, including helicopters and vertical take -off planes (VTOL).
The DGA awaits the first operational tests of the hybrid DT46 this year and could place an official order if the results are in line with its expectations. This project represents a significant advance for French military aviation, which seeks to catch up in terms of hybrid drones while integrating more sustainable and efficient technological solutions.
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