French companies Renault Group and Thales have signed a strategic agreement to jointly develop and mass-produce the Toutatis loitering munition, with output expected to reach up to 1,000 units per month.
Announced at the latest Eurosatory defense convention in Paris, the deal combines Thales’ defense technology with Renault’s large-scale manufacturing capacity to expand France’s domestic unmanned aerial systems (UAS) industrial base.
The collaboration reflects a wider European effort to reduce reliance on foreign drone suppliers and expand sovereign defense production, driven in part by lessons from the war in Ukraine.
The consortium suggested that combining their respective expertise will help scale production faster while lowering costs, aligning with broader regional objectives.
Renault Group CEO François Provost said the partnership “unites the strengths of two French champions” and will enable production “within shortened timelines and at optimized costs.”
Thales CEO Patrice Caine described the agreement as “an important milestone in strengthening sovereign, large-scale” UAS capabilities aligned with wartime production demands.
Ahead of the announcement, the companies also showcased the 4 TROOP tactical vehicle at the exhibit, integrating drones, sensors, secure communications, and AI-assisted decision tools to enhance battlefield operations.
The Toutatis Loitering Munition
Designed by Thales, the Toutatis is a short-range kamikaze drone designed for high-intensity combat.
It can be deployed by infantry or launched from land, air, and naval platforms, and operate in coordinated drone swarms.
The system is engineered to resist electromagnetic disruption and uses customizable warheads to strike targets while keeping human operators in control of engagement decisions.
Toutatis has a weight of 5 kilograms (11 pounds), a wingspan of less than 1 meter (3 feet), and up to 30 minutes of autonomous operation.
It also boasts a range of 30 kilometers (19 miles), a preparation time of five minutes, and a dive speed of up to 150 kilometers (93 miles) per hour.
