Schaeffler Will Assemble France's New Damocles Batch as Delair Targets 100 Drones a Day
France's DGA ordered a new batch of MX-10 Damocles loitering munitions from KNDS and Delair on Oct. 13. The companies say German auto supplier Schaeffler will assemble it, with Delair's CEO claiming capacity rises from 10 to 100 a day from November.
A funded French order now goes to the line the Toulouse drone maker agreed with the German auto supplier in June.
France's procurement agency, the DGA, has exercised an optional tranche of its July 2024 contract with KNDS and Delair for more MX-10 Damocles loitering munitions, KNDS announced Oct. 13. The order covers "a few hundred" units, due in under a year, Delair and KNDS told AFP. The companies said Schaeffler, the German automotive supplier, will assemble the batch at a plant in France. The KNDS release gives no quantity, value or delivery schedule.
Frequently Asked Questions
What did France order?
The DGA exercised an optional tranche of its July 2024 contract with KNDS and Delair for more MX-10 Damocles loitering munitions, per a KNDS release on Oct. 13, 2026. Delair and KNDS told AFP the batch covers "a few hundred" units, due in under a year. No value was disclosed.
What is Schaeffler's role?
The German automotive supplier will assemble the new batch at a plant in France, the companies told AFP. Under a June 19, 2026, cooperation, Schaeffler is setting up a line for Damocles and Delair's Aspik interceptor, per Schaeffler.
Who builds which part of Damocles?
Delair builds the drone and KNDS supplies the warhead, Delair chief executive Bastien Mancini told AFP.
How fast will production run?
Mancini told AFP capacity rises from 10 to 100 a day from November. That is announced capacity; no delivery rate at that level has been disclosed, and the plant has not been named.
Who uses Damocles?
The French Army and Navy, under the MTO-CP programme, per KNDS. Delair and KNDS also cited first export orders whose customers asked not to be named.
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Marcus Schuler
Marcus Schuler edits BattlePolicy, a daily defense-technology brief connecting the companies and capabilities behind modern war to the contest among Europe, the US, Russia, and China.