The conflict in Ukraine and more recently between Israel and Iran have demonstrated that armed conflicts have entered a new era: that of drones. Used as weapons for years, drones have become very popular projectiles in conflicts in just a few years. Inexpensive, easy to manufacture and launch, they are very difficult to intercept.
However, in these troubled times, military defense has become one of the priorities of the DGA (Directorate General of Armaments). But far from its buildings in the Paris region, it is an anonymous SME, ALM Meca, in the heart of Alsace, which was able to find a relevant solution.
17 employees, a drone and an exploit
In less than a year, the small company succeeded in developing Fury. This interceptor drone has a unique design in the world. Similar to a small plane, like its big brother it has a jet engine. Thanks to this powerful engine and aerodynamics thought out down to the smallest detail, Fury reaches a top speed of 700 kilometers per hour. Even more impressive, it has incredible acceleration and very high aerodynamic resistance (up to 20 G).
Contacted by our colleagues at Challenges (article available in source), Thierry Berthier, associated with the Research Center of the Military Academy of Saint-Cyr, recognizes that there are “no other products of this type in Europe”. With Fury, ALM Meca did not do as well as the big French or European players, it did better.
Development using own funds
Beyond the technical sheet Fury and demonstration videos, the most impressive thing about this drone is undoubtedly its economic model. In the military world, private companies all, or almost all, enter into contracts with the DGA, the Ministry of the Armed Forces or any state entity. It is she who finances the development of new projects.
But with Furythings are decidedly very different. The small drone was built with the company’s own funds. Neither the DGA nor the ministry spent a single euro in the construction of this device. A major risk for ALM Meca. The company will now have to face a challenge, at least as important, with the industrialization of its interceptor drone.
For now, a first order for turbines has been made by the Ministry of the Armed Forces. He says he monitors the company’s activity very closely. Other orders could therefore arrive in the coming months in eastern France.
Below is a demonstration of Fury in vol.
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