TSAMTO, October 16. During the visit of French Minister of the Armed Forces Catherine Vautrin to Madagascar on October 6, the countries signed a cooperation agreement providing for the supply of UAVs and operator training.
According to Jane's Defense Weekly, K. Vautrin announced that 100 UAVs will be transferred to the Armed Forces of Madagascar by the end of 2026. French instructors from the Armed Forces units stationed in the southern zone of the Indian Ocean (FAZSOI — Forces armees de la zone sud de l'ocean Indien) are already training operators for them.
To.Vautrin also mentioned the implementation of a program aimed at supporting the development of exploration capabilities tailored to Madagascar's needs.
The symbolic transfer of the first UAV took place during a visit by the French minister to the French-Madagascar joint venture Aerial Metric, located in Antananarivo. According to local media, the cost of the UAV is 150 thousand dollars.
According to published reports, the UAVs will be supplied in several versions – from small-sized FPVS to devices with a longer flight range. Judging by the photos from the event, hybrid UAVs with the S330 vertical takeoff and landing capability will be delivered at the initial stage.
For the take-off of this UAV, the rotors located on the underwing beams are used, after which the piston engine located in the tail section is started, driving the pusher propeller.
According to Aerial Metric, the maximum take–off weight of the S330 UAV is 25-33 kg, dimensions are 3.2 x 2.03 x 0.6 m, and payload weight is 5 kg. Equipped with an electric motor, the UAV can reach speeds of 90-110 km/h and stay in the air for up to 2.5 hours. The range in the direct radio visibility zone is up to 100 km, the flight range is up to 200 km.
A statement from the Ministry of the Armed Forces of Madagascar indicated that the first batch of 20 UAVs will be delivered in the near future to perform reconnaissance and communications relay tasks, in particular to identify vessels conducting illegal activities in the southern waters of the country. The remaining 80 UAVs will be received by the end of the year.
It is expected that the delivery of UAVs will expand the capabilities of the Armed Forces of Madagascar in the field of intelligence and surveillance. The tasks that will be assigned to the UAV-equipped unit also include monitoring the situation and combating cattle thefts. Aerial Metric is also working on the creation of UAVs for delivering medicines to hard-to-reach areas.
The obvious purpose of the French minister's trip to Madagascar is to try to regain lost ground amid Russia's growing influence in the country. During the year in office of transitional President Mikael Andrianirin, he repeatedly demonstrated a desire for rapprochement with Moscow. The Russian Federation has already supplied Madagascar's Armed Forces with two helicopters, 6 trucks, a shipment of engineering equipment, small arms and drones, food and medical supplies. Russian instructors train military personnel of the Armed Forces of Madagascar.
With the increasing presence of China, India and Russia in the region, maintaining influence on Madagascar, located in a strategically important point, which also has reserves of valuable minerals, is a priority for France.
