Aviation

A VSR700 drone on the left and an NH-90 on the right, in the Airbus Helicopters hangars in Marignane. (©B2/Romain Mielcarek)

[Report] Helicopters are not dead, long live helicopters

Romain Mielcarek ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  5 min read

(B2) On Monday, September 1st, Sébastien Lecornu visited Airbus Helicopters in Marignane, in the south of France. The manufacturer presented its Cheetah production line to the minister,…

MBDA's One Way Effectors will be able to regroup in a holding area before descending in swarms on their targets. (©MBDA)

[News] Paris Air Show 2025. Drones: more numerous, higher, further

Romain Mielcarek ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  5 min read

(B2) Every year at Le Bourget, everyone seems to rediscover the ever-increasing visibility of drones. An old phenomenon, which is maturing, but above all, it is part of a broader trend...

Sébastien Lecornu visits the Blois-Le Breuil aerodrome to meet the teams of Turgis and Gaillard, manufacturers of the MALE Aarok drone, Thursday February 27, 2025. (©Cabinet MinArm)

[News] France: 10 million to accelerate a sovereign MALE drone sector

Romain Mielcarek 4 min read

(B2) Taking advantage of a visit by Sébastien Lecornu to Turgis and Gaillard at the end of February, the Ministry of the Armed Forces formalized a proposed envelope intended to boost the drone industry. Objective: to…

Pictured: A Ukrainian Leleka 100 drone. Sine.Engineering wants to keep a low profile about the drones using its technology, for operational security reasons. It has asked us not to publish its customer list. (©CC/VoidWanderer)

[Interview] The drone, a key weapon in the Ukrainian arsenal. And an industrial challenge

Romain Mielcarek ,  ,  ,  8 min read

(B2) To fight the Russians, what could be better than a small, unmanned flying machine, armed if necessary. The drone, the Ukrainian army's moped, with its undeniable tactical advantages, has...

The different formats of Gambit drones, designed by General Atomics, to respond to the different missions anticipated by the Americans. (©GA-ASI)

[Decryption] Dronization, a major trend in combat air fleets of the future throughout the world (Study)

Romain Mielcarek ,  ,  ,  5 min read

(B2) Swarms composed of piloted aircraft, drone-powered wingmen, remote effectors, cruise missiles, and marauding munitions. Is this the future? At least, it's a vision shared by many...

The Chief of Staff of the Air and Space Force, Air Force General Stéphane Mille, during the integration of a group of CPA 10 commandos, in early February 2024. ( ©JL Brunet, air force)

[Interview] Operations, Capabilities, NATO, support for Ukraine. the four air force projects (General Mille, CEMAAE)

Romain Mielcarek ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  8 min read

(B2) From involvement in NATO to capability projects — SCAF, Eurodrone, munitions —, not forgetting operations, the French Air and Space Force often keeps in its sights...

A Belgian F-16 plane on a base in Poland as part of NATO air surveillance (Photo: Armée BE - Archives B2)

[News] To rehabilitate the good old F-16s for Ukraine, the Belgian idea. Using frozen Russian assets

Olivier Jehin ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  3 min read

(B2) If Ukraine will have to wait until 2025 to receive a few Belgian F-16s, it is because of their pitiful state. And it is the frozen Russian assets, or rather their interests,…