Daher completed the inaugural flight of its EyePulse medium‑altitude, long‑endurance (MALE) unmanned demonstrator at its Tarbes facility, using a modified TBM single‑engine turboprop airframe. The sortie, flown under a DGA call, advances France's push to field sovereign long‑endurance ISR-capable UAS.
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Briefing
The flight is a DGA‑backed step in France's effort to field sovereign MALE UAS, building on other domestic MALE development programs (see domestic MALE efforts: https://hype.aero/?story=cb32bec9-289d-43c9-95d1-9fb460fe5854).
Converting the TBM turboprop into an unmanned MALE highlights OEMs leveraging proven manned airframes and existing production lines; this ties to Daher's broader TBM production strategy (see Daher's upcoming US TBM final‑assembly plans: https://hype.aero/?story=0817d132-7668-4db2-b72c-9a30915d5932).
EyePulse adds to a growing European MALE market alongside recent demonstrators — including a German MALE platform marketing ~40‑hour endurance and 1.3‑t payload — which will shape procurement choices and export options (see German MALE context: https://hype.aero/?story=50b81055-f533-4d47-ad7a-384ee507cde4).
Reported By
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(FR) Daher flies its MALE EyePulse drone, based on the TBM platform • Le Journal de l’Aviation
Daher’s EyePulse MALE Drone Takes Flight • flightlineweekly.com
(NL) Daher converts TBM 700 turboprop into unmanned drone • pilootenvliegtuig.nl
Aviation Week
• Thierry Dubois