The MX-10 DAMOCLES programme originates from the industrialisation of a concept selected under the COLIBRI call for projects launched in 2022 by the DGA and the Defence Innovation Agency (Agence de l’innovation de défense, AID). The initiative initially aimed to identify rapidly deployable solutions from the national defence industrial and technological base in order to shorten development timelines. In less than two years, the system progressed from experimental demonstrations to qualification, reflecting an accelerated acquisition approach aligned with current operational feedback. Planning foresees the delivery of 460 MX-10 DAMOCLES munitions to the armed forces by July 2026, supporting a phased introduction at tactical level.
MX-10 DAMOCLES is described as the first remotely operated munition to be industrialised in France. The system is based on a quadcopter architecture developed by Delair, combining vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) capability with electric propulsion. With a total weight of approximately 3.5 kilograms and a wingspan of 80 centimetres, the platform is designed for rapid deployment, with a stated setup time of less than five minutes. The maximum range is 10 kilometres, while operational endurance reaches up to 40 minutes, enabling extended loitering and target acquisition beyond line of sight.
The munition integrates an optronic payload providing real-time video transmission until impact. The sensor suite combines electro-optical and infrared cameras, supporting day and night operations in complex or degraded visual environments. This configuration allows the identification and tracking of personnel and light vehicles, including targets partially masked by terrain or infrastructure. The data link is designed to remain functional under jamming conditions, enabling continued control and observation even in contested electromagnetic environments.
Navigation is designed to operate in Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) denied conditions. This capability reflects operational lessons from recent conflicts, where satellite navigation and communications are frequently disrupted. The system can continue its mission despite such interference, maintaining control throughout the engagement phase. The munition also incorporates a point-detonating mechanism, ensuring detonation occurs upon direct contact with the target.
The lethal payload consists of a 550 gram explosive incendiary fragmentation warhead developed by KNDS France. The warhead is intended for anti-personnel and anti-light vehicle missions, with an effect calibrated to neutralise targets in the contact zone while limiting unintended damage. The integration of a new generation Safety Armament Device allows the operator to abort an attack if required. In such cases, MX-10 DAMOCLES can disengage, return to loitering mode, and re-engage a target later, providing additional flexibility during dynamic engagements.
From a tactical and operational standpoint, MX-10 DAMOCLES offers units a responsive engagement option that can be employed rapidly and with limited logistical burden. Its ability to strike targets beyond line of sight, combined with real-time observation and attack abort functionality, supports use in dense, urban, or complex terrain where precision and control are prioritised. The system complements indirect fire assets by providing a controlled, unit-level capability adapted to short decision cycles.
At a broader level, the introduction of MX-10 DAMOCLES reflects France’s effort to retain sovereign control over a category of systems that has become increasingly prevalent in contemporary conflicts. The industrialisation of a domestically developed remotely operated munition contributes to national autonomy in both production and operational employment. In an international security environment marked by the rapid spread of loitering munitions and countermeasures, MX-10 DAMOCLES illustrates a measured approach to integrating such capabilities within established force structures while maintaining control over their use and evolution.