Overview
- Schaeffler said it will work with French drone maker Delair to produce the combat drone Damocles and the interceptor Aspik in a Delair factory in France and will supply components and industrial scaling support.
- The companies plan to start volume production in November with a target output of about 100 drones per day.
- Schaeffler framed the deal as part of a broader strategy to diversify beyond traditional auto-supply work into defence, robotics and space because classic auto components are no longer driving growth.
- The announcement did not name buyers, disclose government contracts or say whether export controls or regulatory approvals are in place, leaving commercial and political details unresolved.
- Schaeffler is one of the world’s top ten auto suppliers and said it expects the partnership to speed Delair’s move to large-scale serial production and to strengthen European drone manufacturing capacity.