Turgis & Gaillard's Aarok drone, a new prototype of MALE (medium altitude, long endurance) remotely piloted combat aircraft, captivated attention at the Paris Air Show with its interesting specifications and applications. Notably, Turgis & Gaillard independently developed the prototype before pursuing collaborations with larger industry players, with anticipated flight tests planned for early 2024, pending necessary permissions for French airspace.

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Turgis & Gaillard unveiled their Aarok MALE UAV at Paris Air Show 2023 (Picture source: Army/Air Recognition)

The Aarok surpasses the U.S.-made MQ-9A Reaper in size and weight, measuring 14 meters (45.93 feet) in length and boasting a 22-meter (72.18 feet) wingspan, with a maximum take-off weight of 5.5 tonnes (6.06 tons). In comparison, the Reaper measures 11 meters (36.09 feet) in length, has a 20-meter (65.62 feet) wingspan, and weighs 4.5 tonnes (4.96 tons).

Equipped with an aircraft turbine engine, the Aarok can fly at speeds of 250 knots (463 km/h or 288 mph) for an impressive duration of 30 hours at an altitude of 30,000 feet (9,144 meters). Its reinforced landing gear enables it to land on unprepared terrains, expanding its operational capabilities. One of the key highlights of the Aarok is its armament capacity. With a maximum payload capacity of 6,000 pounds (2,722 kilograms), it can carry up to 3,300 pounds (1,497 kilograms) of weapons.

The Aarok has versatile applications across industries. In military and defense, it excels in intelligence gathering, surveillance, and reconnaissance. It is also well-suited for environmental monitoring, infrastructure inspections, and search and rescue operations due to its payload customization capabilities.