New Delhi / Paris: Thales and Renault Group (RG) announced the signing of a partnership agreement to jointly develop and industrialise the large-scale production of Thales’ TOUTATIS loitering munition. This announcement follows the unveiling of the innovative 4 TROOP tactical vehicle, presented by the two Groups on June 16. This strategic partnership combines Thales’ cutting-edge defence expertise with Renault Group’s industrial engineering and manufacturing capabilities to establish a sovereign, agile and competitive drone industry in France, fully aligned with the requirements of the wartime economy.
Through this collaboration, production of loitering munition could begin as early as 2027, with a manufacturing capacity of 1,000 units per month from the first year, marking a significant ramp-up in France’s industrial capacities in this strategic field. This partnership will help secure a resilient and sovereign supply of munitions for France, while addressing the evolving operational and strategic requirements of the armed forces and strengthening the competitiveness of the national defence industry.
Designed for high-intensity conflicts, the TOUTATIS short-range loitering munition provides armed forces with a new operational advantage. Highly versatile, it can be deployed by dismounted soldiers and launched from a variety of platforms (combat vehicles, aircraft and naval platforms). Resistant to electromagnetic jamming and equipped with a mission-configurable warhead, TOUTATIS is capable of neutralising targets such as combat vehicles while ensuring human operators remain in the decision-making loop. Able to operate as part of a drone swarm, TOUTATIS is a scalable system designed to adapt to evolving operational requirements.
“This new strategic partnership between Thales and Renault Group unites the strengths of two French champions in support of France’s sovereign drone industry. Renault Group brings its industrial expertise to the TOUTATIS project, along with the highest standards of automotive manufacturing, to design, industrialise and produce at scale, within shortened timelines and at optimised costs. I am proud of the work accomplished by our teams. It makes a tangible contribution to the initiatives undertaken with the French Ministry of the Armed Forces and strengthens both French and European defence capabilities,” said François PROVOST, Chief Executive Officer of Renault Group.
“This partnership with Renault Group marks an important milestone in strengthening sovereign, large-scale, world-class capabilities in the field of drones. By combining Thales’ excellence in advanced technologies with Renault Group’s industrial strength, this partnership addresses the needs of the armed forces while meeting the requirements of the wartime economy,” commented Patrice CAINE, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Thales.
At Eurosatory, Renault Group and Thales also unveiled 4 TROOP, an innovative tactical vehicle designed to meet the evolving operational requirements of land forces. By integrating drones, sensors, hybrid secure communications and artificial intelligence-enhanced decision-support tools, 4 TROOP provides armed forces with a vehicle offering significantly enhanced operational capabilities.
