In a notable milestone for its military modernization, the French Army publicly showcased the DT46 artillery reconnaissance drone for the first time during the Bastille Day parade on the Champs-Élysées. The drone was featured alongside the 68th African Artillery Regiment (68e RAA), part of the 7th Armored Brigade, which upholds the traditions of African artillery. Stationed in La Valbonne and established in 1941 in Tlemcen, the regiment has taken part in key operations including the Provence landings, Operation Serval in Mali, and the Pamir mission in Afghanistan.
Now evolving under the Scorpion program, the regiment’s adoption of the DT46 drone symbolizes a major leap in operational capability.
The DT46 represents a significant innovation in artillery support, enabling image intelligence (IMINT) for deep target acquisition and enhanced support for frontline and combined arms operations. It also plays a role in counter-battery missions by detecting and pinpointing enemy artillery.
Weighing 28 kg and operated at the brigade level, the DT46 offers an 80 km operational range, over five hours of endurance in fixed-wing mode, and three hours in VTOL mode with its vertical flight kit. Its stealthy acoustic profile is only audible within 200 meters, and it carries a 5 kg payload for mission-adaptable sensors.
