Aarok MALE UAV, France

The Aarok is a next-generation medium altitude, long endurance (MALE) combat drone developed by French company Turgis & Gaillard.

The unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) is designed to provide French armed forces and their allies with a rugged and cost-effective option for surveillance and strike operations.

Designed for mass production, the Aarok can be swiftly deployed to support front line activities.

The UAV was first presented to the public at the Paris Air Show in 2023 and holds the distinction of being the first entirely French-developed MALE UAV.

In June 2025, Turgis & Gaillard signed a memorandum of understanding with India-based Bharat Forge to jointly advance the development and manufacture of the Aarok UAV in India.

Turgis & Gaillard conducted the inaugural flight of the Aarok prototype at the Blois-Le Breuil airfield in France in September 2025. The initial test, which included a pilot onboard, reached an altitude of 5,000ft and lasted just shy of one hour.

Aarok MALE UAV design and features

The Aarok MALE drone is engineered with a multi-domain approach, featuring a simple and sturdy airframe.

The drone has a maximum take-off weight of 5.5 tonnes (t) and an empty weight of 2.5t. It can carry around 3t of payload, including fuel, specific mission equipment and 1.5t of armaments.

With a wingspan of 22m, the Aarok is compatible with the standard hangars found at NATO airbases.

The UAV is designed for flexibility in deployment, including the ability to operate from makeshift airstrips. Its landing gear is designed to handle rough, unpaved surfaces and its durable construction allows it to withstand extended periods outdoors.

The Aarok is built to perform in all weather conditions, even in the presence of ice, and boasts rapid deployment capabilities when transported by tactical aircraft.

Armament and guidance systems

The Aarok can be armed with up to four precision-guided 250kg munitions or two 500kg munitions to engage targets at distances up to 35km with high accuracy in high-intensity conflict scenarios.

The drone can also deploy up to 16 air‑to‑ground missiles with ranges of 35km to undertake air interdiction missions, targeting the disruption of adversarial infrastructure such as military facilities, logistics areas and communication hubs.

The weaponry also gives it the ability to provide close air support to allied forces on the front lines and execute missions focused on the suppression or destruction of enemy air defences.

Additionally, the armament supports strike coordination and reconnaissance tasks, which involve hunter-killer reconnaissance with the objective of identifying and eliminating designated targets.

The weapons suite is compatible with various guidance systems including global positioning system/inertial navigation systems, and laser and infrared guidance systems.

Optronics and sensors onboard Aarok drone

The Aarok MALE UAV incorporates a suite of wide-field and narrow-field sensors to fulfil its operational tasks.

The onboard automatic identification system transponder is used to track and identify friendly and hostile vessels and aircraft.

The UAV is outfitted with signals intelligence capabilities for intelligence collection purposes. It also features an international mobile subscriber identity catcher and a multimode/multirole radar.

In a collaboration established in June 2025, Turgis & Gaillard joined forces with Thales to enhance the Aarok UAV’s reconnaissance model by integrating the AirMaster S, a multimode active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar system.

This AESA radar, with a range exceeding 100km, is designed to support intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) missions, even in areas of intense military engagement.

Moreover, the UAV is outfitted with an advanced electro-optical sensor with a class size of up to 25in, enabling long-range visual reconnaissance and automatic target tracking.

Communications

The UAV features the ODIN battlefield airborne communications node developed by Turgis Gaillard.

ODIN serves as a hub for coordinating communication among all military units across different tactical echelons and establishes connectivity with the components of a networked ground force, overcoming geographical impediments.

It also integrates with data links from other domains such as naval and aerial, and facilitates extended-range communication back to command centres through its satellite communication systems.

Additionally, the Aarok MALE UAV incorporates a satellite communication (satcom) data link, providing the flexibility for remote operation from any global location.

The combination of its velocity, satcom capabilities, line of sight and beyond line of sight communications allows it to execute operations at considerable distances from its originating base.

Propulsion and performance of Aarok UAV

The Aarok is powered by a 1,200hp turboprop engine coupled with a five-blade propeller, enabling it to sustain flight for 24 hours while monitoring a specific location.

It maintains a cruising speed above 250 knots and is capable of ascending beyond 30,000ft in altitude.

The drone is capable of executing take-offs and landings on rugged terrain.

Operational capabilities of Aarok drone

The Aarok drone is capable of executing a variety of tasks including strategic or tactical intelligence gathering, long-range surveillance, reconnaissance, precision strike missions and battlefield operations.

The drone’s design and capabilities also support maritime surveillance tasks, encompassing monitoring activities within exclusive economic zones, conducting search and rescue operations, and engaging in anti-ship and anti-submarine warfare.

Additionally, the Aarok is equipped to carry out border surveillance and monitor specific points of interest.