Ascendance, a leader in hybrid-electric solutions, particularly with its Sterna hybrid propulsion technology and Delair, a designer and manufacturer of professional UAVs for industry and defense, today announced a joint initiative to advance the technology of fixed-wing observation drones. This collaboration aims to address the modernization challenges of the DGA (French Defense Procurement Agency) Missile Testing Center's observation capabilities.

Funded by the Defense Innovation Agency, the project was initiated by DGA Missile Testing and led by the ALIENOR innovation hub through a call for expressions of interest. The 2 companies are working on a hybrid-electric observation drone demonstrator, entirely designed and manufactured in France, based on Delair's flagship DT46 drone model and Ascendance's "Sterna for UAV" hybrid-electric propulsion system.

Advanced technology for enhanced performance

The DT46 Hybrid will complete the range developed by Delair, combining a reliable and proven drone with Ascendance's "The DT46 Hybrid will complete the range developed by Delair, combining a reliable and proven drone with Ascendance's "Sterna for UAV" (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle) hybrid propulsion system. The collaboration between Delair and Ascendance allows us to offer new performance in several key areas:

- Improved endurance, with more than 5.5 hours in VTOL mode (vertical take-off and landing), Sterna technology significantly improving (depending on the configuration) the autonomy of a conventional electric UAV. The ability to recharge the battery in flight further enhances this performance, opening up new possibilities for long-endurance missions.

- The unique ability to switch between hover and airborne modes multiple times during flight provides great flexibility for a variety of civil and military applications.

- The hybrid technology also allows the drone to switch several times between thermal mode (in transit) and electric mode for unobtrusive observation phases (especially acoustic).

- Thanks to this system, the drone can also alternate between slow observation phases and fast transit missions (62 mph).

A Drone Designed for Long-Distance Civil and Military Missions

The hybrid DT46 is designed for dual-use applications (both military and civilian) and can conduct various long-distance missions. It will provide DGA Missile Testing with both economic and environmental benefits while innovatively addressing the center's modernization challenges.

Flight tests have already taken place in Toulouse.

As part of the activities of the DGA Essais de Missiles, the DT46 Hybride will be used to monitor the tests carried out by the DGA Essais de Missiles and for large-scale maritime surveillance. The first qualifying flights will take place in Biscarrosse, France, in the spring, with the agreement of the DGA Techniques Terrestres (the technical authority responsible for mini-UAVs in the French Air Force).

"The DT46 Hybrid demonstrates Sterna's ability to adapt to different sizes of aircraft. Today on a drone and tomorrow on larger and larger aircraft to optimize not only the technical performance but also the carbon footprint for a more sustainable aviation", emphasizes Thibault Baldivia, CCO of Ascendance.

"This new version of the DT46 Hybrid UAV will complement our current range of UAVs for long-range inspection missions, both on land and at sea, in both civilian and military contexts," adds Bastien MANCINI, President of Delair.