Renault to Develop Advanced Long-Range Surveillance and Strike Drones for the French Military
French car manufacturer Renault has revealed plans to start producing long-range reconnaissance and strike drones, teaming up with defense contractor, Turgis Gaillard. The new drones will look similar to Iran’s Shahed drone, which is known for being an affordable loitering munitions weapon. This project, commissioned by France’s Directorate General for Armament, could be worth as much as €1 billion ($1.2 billion) over ten years. Although Renault confirmed the drone manufacturing initiative after coverage by L’Usine Nouvelle, the company did not disclose the contract’s financial details.
According to reports, Renault will build the drones at its factories in Le Mans and Cléon, located west of Paris. The Le Mans site will assemble the drone chassis, while Cléon will focus on engine production. French newspaper La Tribune notes that the drones will feature a 10-meter wingspan and will be produced at a highly competitive price point. Fabrice Cambolive, Renault’s chief growth officer, stated that the French Ministry of the Armed Forces approached Renault about developing a domestic drone industry, tapping the automaker for its expertise in industrial design, production, and engineering.
Renault’s drones are planned to be remotely piloted and will serve both combat and surveillance roles, much like the Shahed drones, which have reportedly been reverse-engineered by the US and used extensively by Russia in Ukraine. In light of rising global tensions, French President Emmanuel Macron has repeatedly urged the country’s defense sector to shift into a “war economy” to boost speed and efficiency, criticizing current production rates.
The new contract likely aligns with this strategy, leveraging Renault’s mass production skills for military technology. Renault and Turgis Gaillard reportedly aim to reach a production rate of up to 600 drones per month by the end of their first year.
More broadly, European governments are increasingly seeking contributions from automotive companies for large-scale military manufacturing. For instance, auto parts supplier, Valeo, is participating in a “defense drone pact” alongside about a hundred other firms. Despite these new ventures, Cambolive stressed that Renault’s primary business focus remains on vehicles.