Delair (France): Strategic-Technological Analysis

Delair is a Toulouse-based French company specializing in long-range fixed-wing unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and associated data analytics. Since its founding in 2011, the firm has pursued a dual-use strategy, balancing civil-industrial mapping applications with growing defense relevance. Its UAVs (e.g. UX11, DT26, DT46, DT61) are marketed for border surveillance, infrastructure monitoring and tactical reconnaissance[1][2]. Delair has expanded internationally, establishing offices in Europe, North America and Asia, and has recently won high-profile defense contracts – including supplying over 150 tactical UAVs to Ukraine[3]. Under CEO Bastien Mancini, Delair has also acquired French drone swarm specialist Squadrone System to accelerate technologies in swarming, electronic warfare and certification[4][5]. As Europe scales up its defense innovation, Delair’s homegrown UAV platforms and sensor expertise make it a compelling test case of European strategic autonomy in action.