France's Drone Industry: At a Crossroads

France's drone sector is at risk of lagging behind without increased government funding. Industry leaders seek more investment, fearing competition from countries like Britain and the USA. Current plans by the French government are seen as insufficient to secure industrial sovereignty for local manufacturers.

France's drone industry faces potential setbacks due to inadequate government funding, according to an industry body. Next year's investment plans are deemed insufficient by manufacturers, risking France's position against global competitors.

Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu announced that scaling up drone production is a priority, with a 150 million euro investment included in the 2026 draft defence budget. Despite this, industry leaders argue it's not enough to secure the country's industrial sovereignty.

The French Drone Association has requested 250 million euros in annual funding but highlights ongoing uncertainty around the adoption of the 2026 budget by year's end. Manufacturers are optimistic about benefitting from an additional 3.5 billion euros in defence spending announced in July.

(With inputs from agencies.)