Donecle (France) – Strategic-Technological Analysis
Donecle is a Toulouse-based aerospace scale-up pioneering the use of autonomous drones and artificial intelligence to transform aircraft maintenance. Founded in 2015 by a team of former Airbus and Thales engineers, the company set out to solve a persistent bottleneck in aviation: the slow, labor-intensive process of visual aircraft inspections. Donecle’s solution—fully automated drones equipped with laser positioning and computer vision—can scan an entire airframe in minutes, detecting surface damage or defects with high precision. This innovation has attracted airlines, maintenance firms and defense agencies looking to boost fleet readiness and safety. By replacing manual inspections and eliminating reliance on foreign-made drones, Donecle aligns with Europe’s drive for technological sovereignty in defense. Its drones are already clearing regulatory hurdles and being adopted by major players, hinting at a future where Europe’s aircraft fleets are kept mission-ready through homegrown autonomous systems. Such a breakthrough has drawn attention across civilian and military sectors, positioning Donecle as a key enabler of smarter, faster maintenance in line with European strategic autonomy goals.