World
European nations sign 7B-euro drone contract

PARIS, France: Germany, France, Italy and Spain signed on Thursday (Friday in Manila) a 7.1-billion-euro contract to build and operate a fleet of surveillance drones, said Airbus, leader of the consortium of defense firms tapped for the project. Baptized 'Eurodrone,' the twin-motor aircraft with a 30-meter wingspan similar to some commercial planes, will be able to carry out intelligence-gathering, surveillance as well as combat operations. The remotely piloted 10-ton drone, to be built by a consortium led by Airbus, will be capable of operating for 20 hours and help provide round-the-clock surveillance capability for European nations. The first Eurodrones are expected to take flight in 2026 and the contract is for 20 systems that include two ground control stations and three drones each.