French Company Unveils Reaper Competitor Drone ‘Aarok’

France’s Turgis & Gaillard unveiled a new medium-altitude, long-endurance (MALE) combat drone, which will compete with same-category systems like the U.S.-made MQ-9 Reaper, at the ongoing Paris Air Show 2023.

Development of the ‘Aarok’ began three years ag0, and it is expected to make its first flight by the end of 2023. The system is envisioned to carry up to 3,000 kg of payload and fly for up to 24 hours. It is powered by a PT6 turboprop engine from Pratt & Whitney Canada.

Aarok is designed to carry out different missions such as strike operations, land and maritime surveillance and anti-submarine warfare.

The drone has a 72-foot wingspan, which makes it 3 feet larger than the American Reaper.

Aarok could be armed with four of Safran’s AASM Hammer precision-guided munitions, the armament it was displayed next to, at the show.