Description

Disclaimer: Copyright infringement not intended.

Context:

India has joined the Medium Altitude Long Endurance Remotely Piloted Aircraft System (MALE RPAS) or Eurodrone program, managed by the Bonn-based Organisation for Joint Armament Cooperation (OCCAR) and led by Taufkirchen-based aerospace company Airbus Defence and Space.

About Eurodrone (Medium Altitude Long Endurance Remotely Piloted Aircraft System - MALE RPAS)

Feature	Description
Max Payload	2.3 tonnes
Endurance	Up to 40 hours
Motor Configuration	Dual-motor
Operational Environment	Designed to operate in a variety of environments, including harsh weather conditions.
Program Establishment	Established in 2022
Pre-Initiation Review (PDR)	2024
Expected Service Entry	2030
Designed For	Safe and reliable flight in non-segregated airspace.
Applications	Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition and Reconnaissance (Istar), Maritime Surveillance, Anti-Surface Warfare, Early Warning
Program Purpose	Part of Europe's collective defense strategy, reducing dependence on American and Israeli platforms (Reaper, Heron Drones)
Participating Countries	Germany, France, Italy, Spain

The strategic importance of the participation of India:

Defense cooperation with Europe: It strengthens India's defense ties with Europe.
Other projects:
Production of aircraft C-295 in India (Tata and Airbus).
Rafale m aircraft for naval use.
Expected contracts for Scorpene class.
Shared Defense Objectives: It introduces a European collective strategy to reduce dependence on American and Israeli drones such as Reaper and Heron.

About Organisation for Joint Armament Cooperation (OCCAR)

Category	Details
Established	12 November 1996.
Legal Status	Achieved in January 2001 after the ratification of the OCCAR Convention by France, Germany, Italy, and the UK.
Member States	Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, United Kingdom
Non-Member Participants	EU and NATO members (Turkey, Netherlands, Luxembourg, Finland, Sweden, Lithuania, Poland), Australia.
Key Decision-Making Body	Board of Supervisors (BoS)
Program Management	Programme Boards (strategic decisions) and Programme Committees (operational decisions)
OCCAR Executive Admin	Headed by OCCAR Director, currently Joachim Sucker (since Feb 2023)
Current Programmes	16 active programs including Airbus A400M, Eurodrone, Boxer, FREMM frigates, MU90 Impact, and more.
Non-Member Participation	Australia signed onto the MU-90 In-service support program in 2023; the Netherlands intends to join in 2023.

Source:

The Hindu

PRACTICE QUESTION

Q.Discuss the strategic significance of the Eurodrone program in enhancing Europe's defense capabilities. How does the development of the Medium Altitude Long Endurance Remotely Piloted Aircraft System (MALE RPAS) contribute to European sovereignty and defense autonomy? (250 words)