A two-year study on development of a medium-altitude/long-endurance unmanned aerial vehicle is to be jointly conducted by three European aerospace companies.

Airbus Defense and Space, Dassault Aviation and Finmeccanica will conduct the definition study following the signing of a Memorandum of Intent this week by the defense ministers of Germany, France and Italy backing the study, which will lead to a decision on whether or not to develop a European UAV system.

"We welcome this important announcement, which confirms the legitimacy and interest of our joint industrial initiative started in 2013," said Dassault Aviation Chief Executive Officer Eric Trappier. "European countries must develop a sovereign, next-generation MALE UAS solution, for both military and security missions, which is required by our armed forces."

France, Germany and Italy in their joint statement confirmed their 2013 decision to fully support implementation of a European Council conclusion that European industry should develop an unmanned aerial system by 2025.

"Our recent commitments on operational theaters, and political and humanitarian crises in our vicinity, have illustrated the critical nature of this capacity and the need for autonomy regarding its use and sustainment," the three countries said of a European UAV. "Following a joint proposal made by the industries of our three countries in 2014, and in order to keep to the tight schedule established by the European Council, the French, German and Italian Ministers of Defence ... have officially recorded their intention to jointly conduct a definition study to prepare the development phase of a European MALE drone."

The study to be conducted is to determine operational prerequisites and common requirements in performance, scheduling and costs of a UAS in line with the requirements of airworthiness and certification for the use of drones in European airspace.

The defense ministries said an actual contract for the definition phase will be issued this year and that OCCAR, the European Union organization that manages joint military procurement projects, will be responsible for program management. The European Defense Agency will provide support in the areas of air traffic insertion, airworthiness and certification.

Germany, France and Italy are prepared to include other European nations during the program's development and acquisition phases, the defense ministers added.

"Through this program, which meets the objectives set by the European Council, Germany, France and Italy are engaging in a process of reinforcing European defense, and are supporting a more competitive defense industry, which will develop and sustain key industrial capabilities and know-how," the ministers said.

Added Bernhard Gerwert, chief executive officer of Airbus Defence and Space: "This important step by industry and government clearly recognizes that sovereignty in development of new systems, and specifically in military reconnaissance and unmanned aviation is of strategic importance for European security."