EU to Develop Light Turboprop Combat Aircraft to Fight Drones

The European Commission has decided to allocate €15 million for the first phase of developing a light multirole combat aircraft with stealth capabilities, as part of the European Defence Fund (EDF) program for 2026.

According to Opex360, the new project, called Future Multirole Light Aircraft (FMLA), aims to address the gap in the European market for light combat planes and offer an affordable, versatile platform for a variety of missions.

The aircraft is primarily intended to provide close air support to ground units on the battlefield, intercept drones, conduct reconnaissance, coordinate strikes and target designation, as well as perform civilian tasks, including search-and-rescue operations and border monitoring.

According to the plan, the FMLA is to be a turboprop aircraft with a maximum takeoff weight of around 7.5 tons, capable of performing short takeoffs and landings on shortened runways.

The project also includes the use of modern materials and technologies to reduce radar visibility, as well as equipping the aircraft with advanced radar and electronic systems.

The European Commission emphasizes that, at this stage, the funding is focused on conceptual research and the technical-economic justification, rather than on actual production.

The future aircraft is not intended to be just another alternative to the Embraer Super Tucano or Pilatus PC-21.

Its aim is to offer the market a unique balance between cost-effectiveness, operational flexibility, and advanced technologies.

It is worth noting that, to date, the European monopoly in the production of turboprop trainer aircraft belongs to Pilatus with its PC-7 and PC-21 models.

These are among the most widely used aircraft for pilot training and also serve as light strike platforms.

Many European countries are currently moving away from using old jet trainer aircraft and transitioning to more economical and lighter platforms.

Militarnyi previously reported that the French Air and Space Force is purchasing Pilatus PC-21 trainer aircraft.