Car maker Renault plans to build drones for Ukraine in cooperation with French arms company Turgis Gaillard. The maker announced on Tuesday that he would cooperate with Turgis Gaillard in the production of drones at 2 locations. A task that, according to the French business journal, ‘Les Echos’, a separate company called Chorus will be established, supported by the French Ministry of Defence.
The company did not disclose the contract value, the number of drones produced, or whether they would be utilized for offensive, defensive or reflection purposes. The Ministry of Defence and Turgis Gaillard initially did not respond to the request for comment.
According to the manufacture magazine ‘usine nouvelle’, which was the first informed about the project, drones are to be mass produced in Renault plants in Cléon and Le Mans. However, Renault refused to confirm this information. The publication states that the task includes the improvement of "remotely controlled long-range ammunition" which could besides be utilized for reflection and exploratory missions. Ultimately, as reported in the magazine, it is to be produced about 600 pieces per month, although this has not been officially confirmed.
“We were contacted due to our experience in manufacturing and industrial development,” said BFM Business manager Renault on Tuesday Fabrice Cambolive, as quoted by Financial Times. ‘This task is presently under way and under the leadership of the Ministry of Defence. We confirm our participation in this task at the request of the government."
In June, the French government called on automotive and arms companies to cooperate in the production of drones. Renault has extended experience in the manufacture of weapons, including tanks utilized during planet War I and II.
Turgis Gaillard is simply a French arms company founded in 2011, employing about 400 employees and achieving a turnover of EUR 80 million. Its products include a variety of drones, any of which can transport almost 3 tons of fuel, weapons or equipment. The French initiative comes at a time erstwhile the improvement of the European automotive and arms manufacture is divergent. The procurement of arms manufacturers is increasing rapidly as the continent increases defence spending, while the automotive sector struggles with the transition from conventional interior combustion engines to electrical vehicles and competition from China.
